Firing members with non-parallel jaw engagement features for surgical end effectors

ABSTRACT

A surgical instrument that includes a shaft axis and first and second jaws that are configured to move relative to each other about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A firing member is configured to move between a starting position and an ending position. A first jaw engagement member extends laterally from each lateral side of the firing member. Each first jaw engagement member is oriented along a first jaw engagement axis that intersects the shaft axis. A second jaw engagement member extends laterally from each lateral side of the firing member. Each second jaw engagement member is oriented along a second jaw engagement axis that intersects the shaft axis and the first jaw engagement axis.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to surgical instruments and, in variousarrangements, to surgical stapling and cutting instruments and staplecartridges for use therewith that are designed to staple and cut tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features of the embodiments described herein, together withadvantages thereof, may be understood in accordance with the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings asfollows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interchangeable surgical toolassembly embodiment operably coupled to a handle assembly embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded assembly view of portions of the handle assemblyand interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a distal portion of the interchangeablesurgical tool assembly embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 withportions thereof omitted for clarity;

FIG. 4 is an exploded assembly view of a distal portion of theinterchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a proximalportion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded assembly view of the proximal portion of theinterchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded assembly view of a portion of a spineassembly embodiment of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional end view of the proximal portion ofthe interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 5 with a clutchassembly thereof shown in an articulation mode;

FIG. 9 is another partial cross-sectional end view of the proximalportion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 5 with theclutch assembly thereof shown in a firing mode;

FIG. 10 is a partial side view of the proximal portion of theinterchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 1 with a clutch assemblythereof shown in the articulation mode;

FIG. 11 is a partial side view of a portion of the interchangeablesurgical tool assembly of FIG. 1 with the clutch assembly thereof shownin the firing mode;

FIG. 12A is a partial side cross-sectional view of the interchangeablesurgical tool assembly of FIG. 1 with a closure stroke reductionassembly embodiment in a retracted orientation corresponding to thearticulation mode;

FIG. 12B is a partial side cross-sectional view of the interchangeablesurgical tool assembly of FIG. 12A with the closure stroke reductionassembly embodiment in an extended orientation corresponding to thefiring mode;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the interchangeablesurgical tool assembly of FIG. 12A showing the closure stroke reductionassembly embodiment in the retracted orientation corresponding to thearticulation mode;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a portion of the interchangeablesurgical tool assembly of FIG. 12B showing the closure stroke reductionassembly embodiment in the extended orientation corresponding to thefiring mode;

FIG. 15A is a side elevational view of a portion of a surgical endeffector embodiment with the jaws thereof in a fully closed orientation;

FIG. 15B is another side elevational view of the surgical end effectorembodiment of FIG. 15A with the jaws thereof in a fully openorientation;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a distal closure member embodiment withpositive jaw opening features;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a portion of a surgical end effectorembodiment that is configured to be used in connection with the distalclosure member of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of portions of the surgical endeffector of FIG. 17 with jaws thereof in a fully closed position and thedistal closure member of FIG. 16 shown in cross-section;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of the surgical end effector anddistal closure member of FIG. 18 with the jaws thereof in the fullyclosed position;

FIG. 20 is another cross-sectional side view of the surgical endeffector and distal closure member of FIG. 18 with the jaws thereof inthe fully open position;

FIG. 21 is a side view of the surgical end effector and distal closuremember of FIG. 18 with the jaws thereof in the fully open position;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a portion of another surgical endeffector embodiment with the anvil omitted for clarity that employs apositive jaw opening spring;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view the positive jaw opening spring of FIG.22;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional side view of the surgical end effector ofFIG. 22 with jaws thereof in a fully open position;

FIG. 25 is another cross-sectional side view of the surgical endeffector of FIG. 22 with jaws thereof in a fully closed position;

FIG. 26 is a side view of a portion of another surgical end effectorembodiment and a distal closure member embodiment with the jaws of thesurgical end effector in a fully open position;

FIG. 27 is another side view of the surgical end effector and distalclosure member of FIG. 26 at the beginning of a jaw closure sequence;

FIG. 28 is another side view of the surgical end effector and distalclosure member of FIG. 26 during the jaw closure sequence;

FIG. 29 is another side view of the surgical end effector and distalclosure member of FIG. 26 with the jaws thereof in a fully closedposition;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a firing member embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a side elevational view of the firing member of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a front view of the firing member of FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the firing member of FIG. 30 inrelation to a sled assembly embodiment and a firing member lockembodiment;

FIG. 33A is a top view of a staple driver embodiment;

FIG. 33B is a top perspective view of the staple driver embodiment ofFIG. 33A;

FIG. 33C is a bottom perspective view of the staple driver embodiment ofFIGS. 33A and 33B;

FIG. 34 is a bottom perspective view of the firing member lock of FIG.33;

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a portion of asurgical end effector embodiment with jaws thereof in a fully openorientation and the firing member lock of FIG. 33 in an unlockedorientation;

FIG. 36 is another cross-sectional side elevational view of the surgicalend effector of FIG. 35 with an unspent surgical staple cartridgesupported in one of the jaws and retaining the firing member lock in theunlocked orientation;

FIG. 37 is another cross-sectional side elevational view of the surgicalend effector of FIG. 36 after a firing sequence has been commenced;

FIG. 38 is another cross-sectional side elevational view of the surgicalend effector of FIG. 36 as the firing member is being retracted back toa starting position;

FIG. 39 is a top cross-sectional view of the firing member and firingmember lock in the position shown in FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is another cross-sectional side elevational view of the surgicalend effector of FIG. 36 after the firing member has been retracted backto the starting position;

FIG. 41 a top cross-sectional view of the firing member and firingmember lock in the position shown in FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a portion ofanother surgical end effector embodiment with jaws thereof in a fullyopen orientation and another firing member lock embodiment of FIG. 33 ina locked orientation;

FIG. 43 is a left side perspective view of portions of another surgicalend effector embodiment and distal closure member embodiment with jawsof the surgical end effector in a fully open position and supporting asurgical staple cartridge therein with expandable tissue stops in afully expanded orientation;

FIG. 44 is a right side perspective view of the surgical end effector ofFIG. 43;

FIG. 45 is an exploded perspective view of one of the jaws and thesurgical staple cartridge of FIGS. 43 and 44;

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of a stop spring of one of the expandabletissue stops of FIG. 43;

FIG. 47 is a partial cross-sectional end view of the surgical endeffector of FIGS. 42 and 43 with the jaws thereof in the fully openorientation and the expandable tissue stops thereof in their fullyexpanded orientations;

FIG. 48 is a top view of a portion of the surgical staple cartridge ofFIGS. 42 and 43;

FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional side view of the surgical end effector ofFIGS. 43 and 44 with the jaws thereof in the fully closed position;

FIG. 50 is another cross-sectional side view of the surgical endeffector of FIGS. 43 and 44 with the jaws thereof in the fully openposition;

FIG. 51 is a partial cross-sectional end view of another surgical endeffector embodiment with the jaws thereof in a fully open orientation;

FIG. 52 is a side elevational view of a portion of the surgical endeffector of FIG. 51 with the jaws thereof in a fully open orientation;and

FIG. 53 is another side elevational view of a portion of the surgicalend effector of FIG. 51 with the jaws thereof in a fully closedorientation.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate various embodiments of the invention, in one form, and suchexemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. PatentApplications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,185, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENTS AND REPLACEABLE TOOL ASSEMBLIES THEREOF;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,230, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,221, entitled LOCKOUTARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,209, entitled SURGICAL ENDEFFECTORS AND FIRING MEMBERS THEREOF;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,198, entitled LOCKOUTARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND REPLACEABLE TOOL ASSEMBLIES;and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,240, entitled SURGICAL ENDEFFECTORS AND ADAPTABLE FIRING MEMBERS THEREFOR.

Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. PatentApplications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,939, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGESAND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,941, entitled SURGICAL TOOLASSEMBLIES WITH CLUTCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHIFTING BETWEEN CLOSURESYSTEMS WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION FEATURES AND ARTICULATION ANDFIRING SYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,943, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,950, entitled SURGICAL TOOLASSEMBLIES WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION FEATURES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,945, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGESAND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,946, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,951, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH JAW OPENING FEATURES FOR INCREASING A JAW OPENINGDISTANCE;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,953, entitled METHODS OFSTAPLING TISSUE;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,955, entitled SURGICAL ENDEFFECTORS WITH EXPANDABLE TISSUE STOP ARRANGEMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,948, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,956, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING FEATURES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,958, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING FIRING SYSTEMACTUATION UNLESS AN UNSPENT STAPLE CARTRIDGE IS PRESENT; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,947, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGESAND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN.

Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. PatentApplications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,896, entitled METHOD FORRESETTING A FUSE OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SHAFT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,898, entitled STAPLE FORMINGPOCKET ARRANGEMENT TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,899, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING IMPROVED JAW CONTROL;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,901, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGEAND STAPLE CARTRIDGE CHANNEL COMPRISING WINDOWS DEFINED THEREIN;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,902, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CUTTING MEMBER;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,904, entitled STAPLE FIRINGMEMBER COMPRISING A MISSING CARTRIDGE AND/OR SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,905, entitled FIRING ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING A LOCKOUT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,907, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN END EFFECTOR LOCKOUT AND A FIRINGASSEMBLY LOCKOUT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,908, entitled FIRING ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING A FUSE; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,909, entitled FIRING ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING A MULTIPLE FAILED-STATE FUSE.

Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. PatentApplications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,920, entitled STAPLE FORMINGPOCKET ARRANGEMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,913, entitled ANVIL ARRANGEMENTSFOR SURGICAL STAPLERS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,914, entitled METHOD OFDEFORMING STAPLES FROM TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLE CARTRIDGES WITH THESAME SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,893, entitled BILATERALLYASYMMETRIC STAPLE FORMING POCKET PAIRS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,929, entitled CLOSURE MEMBERSWITH CAM SURFACE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SEPARATE ANDDISTINCT CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,911, entitled SURGICAL STAPLERSWITH INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATABLE CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,927, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENTS WITH SMART STAPLE CARTRIDGES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,917, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGECOMPRISING STAPLES WITH DIFFERENT CLAMPING BREADTHS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,900, entitled STAPLE FORMINGPOCKET ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING PRIMARY SIDEWALLS AND POCKET SIDEWALLS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,931, entitled NO-CARTRIDGE ANDSPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,915, entitled FIRING MEMBER PINANGLE;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,897, entitled STAPLE FORMINGPOCKET ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING ZONED FORMING SURFACE GROOVES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,922, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FAILURE RESPONSE MODES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,924, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT WITH PRIMARY AND SAFETY PROCESSORS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,912, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH JAWS THAT ARE PIVOTABLE ABOUT A FIXED AXIS AND INCLUDESEPARATE AND DISTINCT CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,910, entitled ANVIL HAVING AKNIFE SLOT WIDTH;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,903, entitled CLOSURE MEMBERARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,906, entitled FIRING MEMBER PINCONFIGURATIONS.

Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. PatentApplications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,188, entitled STEPPED STAPLECARTRIDGE WITH ASYMMETRICAL STAPLES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,192, entitled STEPPED STAPLECARTRIDGE WITH TISSUE RETENTION AND GAP SETTING FEATURES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,206, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGEWITH DEFORMABLE DRIVER RETENTION FEATURES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,226, entitled DURABILITYFEATURES FOR END EFFECTORS AND FIRING ASSEMBLIES OF SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,222, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENTS HAVING END EFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE OPENING FEATURES; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,236, entitled CONNECTIONPORTIONS FOR DISPOSABLE LOADING UNITS FOR SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS.

Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. PatentApplications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,887, entitled METHOD FORATTACHING A SHAFT ASSEMBLY TO A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND, ALTERNATIVELY,TO A SURGICAL ROBOT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,889, entitled SHAFT ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING A MANUALLY-OPERABLE RETRACTION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH AMOTORIZED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,890, entitled SHAFT ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING SEPARATELY ACTUATABLE AND RETRACTABLE SYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,891, entitled SHAFT ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING A CLUTCH CONFIGURED TO ADAPT THE OUTPUT OF A ROTARY FIRINGMEMBER TO TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,892, entitled SURGICAL SYSTEMCOMPRISING A FIRING MEMBER ROTATABLE INTO AN ARTICULATION STATE TOARTICULATE AN END EFFECTOR OF THE SURGICAL SYSTEM;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,894, entitled SHAFT ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING A LOCKOUT; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,895, entitled SHAFT ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND ARTICULATION LOCKOUTS.

Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. PatentApplications that were filed on Dec. 21, 2016 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,916, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,918, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,919, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,921, entitled SURGICAL STAPLECARTRIDGE WITH MOVABLE CAMMING MEMBER CONFIGURED TO DISENGAGE FIRINGMEMBER LOCKOUT FEATURES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,923, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,925, entitled JAW ACTUATED LOCKARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING ADVANCEMENT OF A FIRING MEMBER IN A SURGICALEND EFFECTOR UNLESS AN UNFIRED CARTRIDGE IS INSTALLED IN THE ENDEFFECTOR;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,926, entitled AXIALLY MOVABLECLOSURE SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPLYING CLOSURE MOTIONS TO JAWS OFSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,928, entitled PROTECTIVE COVERARRANGEMENTS FOR A JOINT INTERFACE BETWEEN A MOVABLE JAW AND ACTUATORSHAFT OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,930, entitled SURGICAL ENDEFFECTOR WITH TWO SEPARATE COOPERATING OPENING FEATURES FOR OPENING ANDCLOSING END EFFECTOR JAWS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,932, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL END EFFECTOR WITH ASYMMETRIC SHAFT ARRANGEMENT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,933, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH INDEPENDENT PIVOTABLE LINKAGE DISTAL OF ANARTICULATION LOCK;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,934, entitled ARTICULATION LOCKARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCKING AN END EFFECTOR IN AN ARTICULATED POSITION INRESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF A JAW CLOSURE SYSTEM;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,935, entitled LATERALLYACTUATABLE ARTICULATION LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCKING AN END EFFECTOR OFA SURGICAL INSTRUMENT IN AN ARTICULATED CONFIGURATION; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/385,936, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATION STROKE AMPLIFICATION FEATURES.

Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. PatentApplications that were filed on Jun. 24, 2016 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/191,775, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGECOMPRISING WIRE STAPLES AND STAMPED STAPLES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/191,807, entitled STAPLING SYSTEMFOR USE WITH WIRE STAPLES AND STAMPED STAPLES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/191,834, entitled STAMPED STAPLESAND STAPLE CARTRIDGES USING THE SAME;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/191,788, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGECOMPRISING OVERDRIVEN STAPLES; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/191,818, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGECOMPRISING OFFSET LONGITUDINAL STAPLE ROWS.

Applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. PatentApplications that were filed on Jun. 24, 2016 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/569,218, entitled SURGICALFASTENER;

U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/569,227, entitled SURGICALFASTENER;

U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/569,259, entitled SURGICALFASTENER CARTRIDGE; and

U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/569,264, entitled SURGICALFASTENER CARTRIDGE.

Applicant of the present application owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Apr. 1, 2016 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,325, entitled METHOD FOROPERATING A SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,321, entitled MODULAR SURGICALSTAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,326, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY INCLUDING A RE-ORIENTABLE DISPLAY FIELD;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,263, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT HANDLE ASSEMBLY WITH RECONFIGURABLE GRIP PORTION;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,262, entitled ROTARY POWEREDSURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MANUALLY ACTUATABLE BAILOUT SYSTEM;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,277, entitled SURGICAL CUTTINGAND STAPLING END EFFECTOR WITH ANVIL CONCENTRIC DRIVE MEMBER;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,296, entitled INTERCHANGEABLESURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLY WITH A SURGICAL END EFFECTOR THAT IS SELECTIVELYROTATABLE ABOUT A SHAFT AXIS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,258, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING A SHIFTABLE TRANSMISSION;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,278, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM CONFIGURED TO PROVIDE SELECTIVE CUTTING OF TISSUE;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,284, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING A CONTOURABLE SHAFT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,295, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING A TISSUE COMPRESSION LOCKOUT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,300, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING AN UNCLAMPING LOCKOUT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,196, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING A JAW CLOSURE LOCKOUT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,203, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING A JAW ATTACHMENT LOCKOUT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,210, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING A SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,324, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SHIFTING MECHANISM;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,335, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENT COMPRISING MULTIPLE LOCKOUTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,339, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,253, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM CONFIGURED TO APPLY ANNULAR ROWS OF STAPLES HAVING DIFFERENTHEIGHTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,304, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING A GROOVED FORMING POCKET;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,331, entitled ANVIL MODIFICATIONMEMBERS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,336, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGESWITH ATRAUMATIC FEATURES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,312, entitled CIRCULAR STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING AN INCISABLE TISSUE SUPPORT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,309, entitled CIRCULAR STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING ROTARY FIRING SYSTEM; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/089,349, entitled CIRCULAR STAPLINGSYSTEM COMPRISING LOAD CONTROL.

Applicant of the present application also owns the U.S. PatentApplications identified below which were filed on Dec. 31, 2015 whichare each herein incorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/984,488, entitled MECHANISMS FORCOMPENSATING FOR BATTERY PACK FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/984,525, entitled MECHANISMS FORCOMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/984,552, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH SEPARABLE MOTORS AND MOTOR CONTROL CIRCUITS.

Applicant of the present application also owns the U.S. PatentApplications identified below which were filed on Feb. 9, 2016 which areeach herein incorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,220, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT WITH ARTICULATING AND AXIALLY TRANSLATABLE END EFFECTOR;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,228, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE LINK ARTICULATION ARRANGEMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,196, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT ARTICULATION MECHANISM WITH SLOTTED SECONDARY CONSTRAINT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,206, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH AN END EFFECTOR THAT IS HIGHLY ARTICULATABLE RELATIVETO AN ELONGATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,215, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH NON-SYMMETRICAL ARTICULATION ARRANGEMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,227, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SINGLE ARTICULATION LINK ARRANGEMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,235, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH TENSIONING ARRANGEMENTS FOR CABLE DRIVEN ARTICULATIONSYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,230, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-AXIS FIRING BEAM ARRANGEMENTS; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,245, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION ARRANGEMENTS.

Applicant of the present application also owns the U.S. PatentApplications identified below which were filed on Feb. 12, 2016 whichare each herein incorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/043,254, entitled MECHANISMS FORCOMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/043,259, entitled MECHANISMS FORCOMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/043,275, entitled MECHANISMS FORCOMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/043,289, entitled MECHANISMS FORCOMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Applicant of the present application owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Jun. 18, 2015 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,925, entitled SURGICAL ENDEFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING ARRANGEMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,941, entitled SURGICAL ENDEFFECTORS WITH DUAL CAM ACTUATED JAW CLOSING FEATURES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,914, entitled MOVABLE FIRINGBEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,900, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH COMPOSITE FIRING BEAM STRUCTURES WITH CENTERFIRING SUPPORT MEMBER FOR ARTICULATION SUPPORT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,885, entitled DUAL ARTICULATIONDRIVE SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,876, entitled PUSH/PULLARTICULATION DRIVE SYSTEMS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Applicant of the present application owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Mar. 6, 2015 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,746, entitled POWERED SURGICALINSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256184;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,795, entitled MULTIPLE LEVELTHRESHOLDS TO MODIFY OPERATION OF POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2016/02561185;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,832, entitled ADAPTIVE TISSUECOMPRESSION TECHNIQUES TO ADJUST CLOSURE RATES FOR MULTIPLE TISSUETYPES, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256154;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,935, entitled OVERLAID MULTISENSOR RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) ELECTRODE SYSTEM TO MEASURE TISSUECOMPRESSION, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256071;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,831, entitled MONITORING SPEEDCONTROL AND PRECISION INCREMENTING OF MOTOR FOR POWERED SURGICALINSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256153;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,859, entitled TIME DEPENDENTEVALUATION OF SENSOR DATA TO DETERMINE STABILITY, CREEP, ANDVISCOELASTIC ELEMENTS OF MEASURES, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016/0256187;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,817, entitled INTERACTIVEFEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0256186;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,844, entitled CONTROL TECHNIQUESAND SUB-PROCESSOR CONTAINED WITHIN MODULAR SHAFT WITH SELECT CONTROLPROCESSING FROM HANDLE, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2016/0256155;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,837, entitled SMART SENSORS WITHLOCAL SIGNAL PROCESSING, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2016/0256163;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,765, entitled SYSTEM FORDETECTING THE MIS-INSERTION OF A STAPLE CARTRIDGE INTO A SURGICALSTAPLER, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256160;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,799, entitled SIGNAL AND POWERCOMMUNICATION SYSTEM POSITIONED ON A ROTATABLE SHAFT, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0256162; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/640,780, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING A LOCKABLE BATTERY HOUSING, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0256161.

Applicant of the present application owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Feb. 27, 2015, and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

-   -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,576, entitled SURGICAL        INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INSPECTION STATION, now U.S.        Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249919;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,546, entitled SURGICAL        APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO ASSESS WHETHER A PERFORMANCE PARAMETER        OF THE SURGICAL APPARATUS IS WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE        BAND, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249915;        -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,560, entitled            SURGICAL CHARGING SYSTEM THAT CHARGES AND/OR CONDITIONS ONE            OR MORE BATTERIES, now U.S. Patent Application Publication            No. 2016/0249910;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,566, entitled CHARGING        SYSTEM THAT ENABLES EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS FOR CHARGING A        BATTERY, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.        2016/0249918;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,555, entitled SYSTEM FOR        MONITORING WHETHER A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED,        now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249916;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,542, entitled REINFORCED        BATTERY FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent Application        Publication No. 2016/0249908;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,548, entitled POWER        ADAPTER FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent Application        Publication No. 2016/0249909;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,526, entitled ADAPTABLE        SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE, now U.S. Patent Application        Publication No. 2016/0249945;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,541, entitled MODULAR        STAPLING ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.        2016/0249927; and    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,562, entitled SURGICAL        APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO TRACK AN END-OF-LIFE PARAMETER, now U.S.        Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249917.

Applicant of the present application owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Dec. 18, 2014 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/574,478, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING AN ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTOR AND MEANSFOR ADJUSTING THE FIRING STROKE OF A FIRING MEMBER, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0174977;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/574,483, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING LOCKABLE SYSTEMS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0174969;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,139, entitled DRIVE ARRANGEMENTSFOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016/0174978;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,148, entitled LOCKINGARRANGEMENTS FOR DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES WITH ARTICULATABLE SURGICALEND EFFECTORS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0174976;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,130, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT WITH AN ANVIL THAT IS SELECTIVELY MOVABLE ABOUT A DISCRETENON-MOVABLE AXIS RELATIVE TO A STAPLE CARTRIDGE, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0174972;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,143, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH IMPROVED CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0174983;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,117, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND MOVABLE FIRING BEAMSUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2016/0174975;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,154, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND IMPROVED FIRING BEAMSUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2016/0174973;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/574,493, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM, now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0174970; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/574,500, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKABLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM, now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0174971.

Applicant of the present application owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Mar. 1, 2013 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,295, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CONDUCTIVE PATHWAYS FOR SIGNAL COMMUNICATION,now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0246471;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,323, entitled ROTARY POWEREDARTICULATION JOINTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0246472;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,338, entitled THUMBWHEEL SWITCHARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0249557;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,499, entitled ELECTROMECHANICALSURGICAL DEVICE WITH SIGNAL RELAY ARRANGEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No.9,358,003;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,460, entitled MULTIPLE PROCESSORMOTOR CONTROL FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0246478;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,358, entitled JOYSTICK SWITCHASSEMBLIES FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,326,767;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,481, entitled SENSORSTRAIGHTENED END EFFECTOR DURING REMOVAL THROUGH TROCAR, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,468,438;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,518, entitled CONTROL METHODSFOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH REMOVABLE IMPLEMENT PORTIONS, now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0246475;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,375, entitled ROTARY POWEREDSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE DEGREES OF FREEDOM, now U.S. Pat. No.9,398,911; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,536, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT SOFT STOP, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,307,986.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Mar. 14, 2013 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,097, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263542;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,193, entitled CONTROLARRANGEMENTS FOR A DRIVE MEMBER OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,332,987;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,053, entitled INTERCHANGEABLESHAFT ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263564;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,086, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION LOCK, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263541;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,210, entitled SENSORARRANGEMENTS FOR ABSOLUTE POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS,now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263538;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,148, entitled MULTI-FUNCTIONMOTOR FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2014/0263554;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,066, entitled DRIVE SYSTEMLOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263565;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,117, entitled ARTICULATIONCONTROL SYSTEM FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No.9,351,726;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,130, entitled DRIVE TRAINCONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Pat. No.9,351,727; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,159, entitled METHOD AND SYSTEMFOR OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0277017.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplication that was filed on Mar. 7, 2014 and is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/200,111, entitled CONTROL SYSTEMSFOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0263539.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Mar. 26, 2014 and are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,106, entitled POWER MANAGEMENTCONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2015/0272582;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,099, entitled STERILIZATIONVERIFICATION CIRCUIT, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2015/0272581;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,094, entitled VERIFICATION OFNUMBER OF BATTERY EXCHANGES/PROCEDURE COUNT, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2015/0272580;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,117, entitled POWER MANAGEMENTTHROUGH SLEEP OPTIONS OF SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND WAKE UP CONTROL, now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272574;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,075, entitled MODULAR POWEREDSURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2015/0272579;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,093, entitled FEEDBACKALGORITHMS FOR MANUAL BAILOUT SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272569;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,116, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT UTILIZING SENSOR ADAPTATION, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2015/0272571;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,071, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT CONTROL CIRCUIT HAVING A SAFETY PROCESSOR, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2015/0272578;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,097, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2015/0272570;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,126, entitled INTERFACE SYSTEMSFOR USE WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2015/0272572;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,133, entitled MODULAR SURGICALINSTRUMENT SYSTEM, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2015/0272557;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,081, entitled SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS FOR CONTROLLING A SEGMENTED CIRCUIT, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2015/0277471;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,076, entitled POWER MANAGEMENTTHROUGH SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND VARIABLE VOLTAGE PROTECTION, now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0280424;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,111, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENT SYSTEM, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2015/0272583; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,125, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SHAFT, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2015/0280384.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Sep. 5, 2014 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,103, entitled CIRCUITRY ANDSENSORS FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016/0066912;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,119, entitled ADJUNCT WITHINTEGRATED SENSORS TO QUANTIFY TISSUE COMPRESSION, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0066914;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/478,908, entitled MONITORING DEVICEDEGRADATION BASED ON COMPONENT EVALUATION, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016/0066910;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/478,895, entitled MULTIPLE SENSORSWITH ONE SENSOR AFFECTING A SECOND SENSOR'S OUTPUT OR INTERPRETATION,now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0066909;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,110, entitled POLARITY OF HALLMAGNET TO DETECT MISLOADED CARTRIDGE, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016/0066915;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,098, entitled SMART CARTRIDGEWAKE UP OPERATION AND DATA RETENTION, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016/0066911;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,115, entitled MULTIPLE MOTORCONTROL FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016/0066916; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,108, entitled LOCAL DISPLAY OFTISSUE PARAMETER STABILIZATION, now U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2016/0066913.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Apr. 9, 2014 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,590, entitled MOTOR DRIVENSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKABLE DUAL DRIVE SHAFTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0305987;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,581, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CLOSING DRIVE AND A FIRING DRIVE OPERATED FROMTHE SAME ROTATABLE OUTPUT, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0305989;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,595, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT SHAFT INCLUDING SWITCHES FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THESURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0305988;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,588, entitled POWERED LINEARSURGICAL STAPLER, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0309666;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,591, entitled TRANSMISSIONARRANGEMENT FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0305991;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,584, entitled MODULAR MOTORDRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ALIGNMENT FEATURES FOR ALIGNING ROTARYDRIVE SHAFTS WITH SURGICAL END EFFECTOR SHAFTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0305994;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,587, entitled POWERED SURGICALSTAPLER, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0309665;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,586, entitled DRIVE SYSTEMDECOUPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0305990; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,607, entitled MODULAR MOTORDRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH STATUS INDICATION ARRANGEMENTS, nowU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0305992.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Apr. 16, 2013 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,365, entitledSURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR;

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,376, entitled LINEARCUTTER WITH POWER;

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,382, entitled LINEARCUTTER WITH MOTOR AND PISTOL GRIP;

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,385, entitledSURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE WITH MULTIPLE ACTUATION MOTORS AND MOTORCONTROL; and

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,372, entitledSURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Sep. 2, 2015 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/843,168, entitled SURGICAL STAPLECARTRIDGE WITH IMPROVED STAPLE DRIVER CONFIGURATIONS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/843,196, entitled SURGICAL STAPLEDRIVER ARRAYS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/843,216, entitled SURGICAL STAPLECARTRIDGE STAPLE DRIVERS WITH CENTRAL SUPPORT FEATURES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/843,243, entitled SURGICAL STAPLECONFIGURATIONS WITH CAMMING SURFACES LOCATED BETWEEN PORTIONS SUPPORTINGSURGICAL STAPLES; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/843,267, entitled SURGICAL STAPLECARTRIDGES WITH DRIVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR ESTABLISHING HERRINGBONE STAPLEPATTERNS.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Sep. 26, 2014 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/498,070, entitled CIRCULAR FASTENERCARTRIDGES FOR APPLYING RADIALLY EXPANDABLE FASTENER LINES; now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0089146;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/498,087, entitled SURGICAL STAPLEAND DRIVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR STAPLE CARTRIDGES; now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0089147;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/498,105, entitled SURGICAL STAPLEAND DRIVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR STAPLE CARTRIDGES; now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0089148;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/498,121, entitled FASTENER CARTRIDGEFOR CREATING A FLEXIBLE STAPLE LINE; now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016/0089141

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/498,145, entitled METHOD FORCREATING A FLEXIBLE STAPLE LINE; now U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2016/0089142; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/498,107, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGBUTTRESSES AND ADJUNCT MATERIALS; now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016/0089143.

Applicant of the present application also owns U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,762,which issued Nov. 26, 2013, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE CAVITYCONFIGURATIONS, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsrespective entirety.

Applicant of the present application also owns U.S. Pat. No. 8,727,197,which issued May 20, 2014, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE CAVITYCONFIGURATION WITH COOPERATIVE SURGICAL STAPLE, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its respective entirety.

Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and useof the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. Well-known operations, components, andelements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure theembodiments described in the specification. The reader will understandthat the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limitingexamples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structuraland functional details disclosed herein may be representative andillustrative. Variations and changes thereto may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims.

The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and“comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and“having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and“including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains”and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a surgicalsystem, device, or apparatus that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or“contains” one or more elements possesses those one or more elements,but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements.Likewise, an element of a system, device, or apparatus that “comprises,”“has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more features possesses those oneor more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one ormore features.

The terms “proximal” and “distal” are used herein with reference to aclinician manipulating the handle portion of the surgical instrument.The term “proximal” refers to the portion closest to the clinician andthe term “distal” refers to the portion located away from the clinician.It will be further appreciated that, for convenience and clarity,spatial terms such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, and “down” may beused herein with respect to the drawings. However, surgical instrumentsare used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are notintended to be limiting and/or absolute.

Various exemplary devices and methods are provided for performinglaparoscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures. However, thereader will readily appreciate that the various methods and devicesdisclosed herein can be used in numerous surgical procedures andapplications including, for example, in connection with open surgicalprocedures. As the present Detailed Description proceeds, the readerwill further appreciate that the various instruments disclosed hereincan be inserted into a body in any way, such as through a naturalorifice, through an incision or puncture hole formed in tissue, etc. Theworking portions or end effector portions of the instruments can beinserted directly into a patient's body or can be inserted through anaccess device that has a working channel through which the end effectorand elongate shaft of a surgical instrument can be advanced.

A surgical stapling system can comprise a shaft and an end effectorextending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw and asecond jaw. The first jaw comprises a staple cartridge. The staplecartridge is insertable into and removable from the first jaw; however,other embodiments are envisioned in which a staple cartridge is notremovable from, or at least readily replaceable from, the first jaw. Thesecond jaw comprises an anvil configured to deform staples ejected fromthe staple cartridge. The second jaw is pivotable relative to the firstjaw about a closure axis; however, other embodiments are envisioned inwhich first jaw is pivotable relative to the second jaw. The surgicalstapling system further comprises an articulation joint configured topermit the end effector to be rotated, or articulated, relative to theshaft. The end effector is rotatable about an articulation axisextending through the articulation joint. Other embodiments areenvisioned which do not include an articulation joint.

The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body. The cartridge bodyincludes a proximal end, a distal end, and a deck extending between theproximal end and the distal end. In use, the staple cartridge ispositioned on a first side of the tissue to be stapled and the anvil ispositioned on a second side of the tissue. The anvil is moved toward thestaple cartridge to compress and clamp the tissue against the deck.Thereafter, staples removably stored in the cartridge body can bedeployed into the tissue. The cartridge body includes staple cavitiesdefined therein wherein staples are removably stored in the staplecavities. The staple cavities are arranged in six longitudinal rows.Three rows of staple cavities are positioned on a first side of alongitudinal slot and three rows of staple cavities are positioned on asecond side of the longitudinal slot. Other arrangements of staplecavities and staples may be possible.

The staples are supported by staple drivers in the cartridge body. Thedrivers are movable between a first, or unfired position, and a second,or fired, position to eject the staples from the staple cavities. Thedrivers are retained in the cartridge body by a retainer which extendsaround the bottom of the cartridge body and includes resilient membersconfigured to grip the cartridge body and hold the retainer to thecartridge body. The drivers are movable between their unfired positionsand their fired positions by a sled. The sled is movable between aproximal position adjacent the proximal end and a distal positionadjacent the distal end. The sled comprises a plurality of rampedsurfaces configured to slide under the drivers and lift the drivers, andthe staples supported thereon, toward the anvil.

Further to the above, the sled is moved distally by a firing member. Thefiring member is configured to contact the sled and push the sled towardthe distal end. The longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body isconfigured to receive the firing member. The anvil also includes a slotconfigured to receive the firing member. The firing member furthercomprises a first cam which engages the first jaw and a second cam whichengages the second jaw. As the firing member is advanced distally, thefirst cam and the second cam can control the distance, or tissue gap,between the deck of the staple cartridge and the anvil. The firingmember also comprises a knife configured to incise the tissue capturedintermediate the staple cartridge and the anvil. It is desirable for theknife to be positioned at least partially proximal to the rampedsurfaces such that the staples are ejected ahead of the knife.

FIG. 1 depicts one form of an interchangeable surgical tool assembly1000 that is operably coupled to a motor driven handle assembly 500. Thetool assembly 1000 may also be effectively employed with a tool driveassembly of a robotically controlled or automated surgical system. Forexample, the surgical tool assemblies disclosed herein may be employedwith various robotic systems, instruments, components and methods suchas, but not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,072,535,entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENTARRANGEMENTS, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety. The handle assembly 500, as well as the tool drive assembly ofa robotic system may also be referred to herein as “control systems” or“control units”.

FIG. 2 illustrates attachment of the interchangeable surgical toolassembly 1000 to the handle assembly 500. The handle assembly 500 maycomprise a handle housing 502 that includes a pistol grip portion 504that can be gripped and manipulated by the clinician. The handleassembly 500 may further include a frame 506 that operably supports theplurality of drive systems. For example, the frame 506 can operablysupport a “first” or closure drive system, generally designated as 510,which may be employed to apply closing and opening motions to theinterchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 that is operably attached orcoupled to the handle assembly 500. In at least one form, the closuredrive system 510 may include an actuator in the form of a closuretrigger 512 that is pivotally supported by the frame 506. Sucharrangement enables the closure trigger 512 to be manipulated by aclinician such that when the clinician grips the pistol grip portion 504of the handle assembly 500, the closure trigger 512 may be easilypivoted from a starting or “unactuated” position to an “actuated”position and more particularly, to a fully compressed or fully actuatedposition. In various forms, the closure drive system 510 furtherincludes a closure linkage assembly 514 that is pivotally coupled to theclosure trigger 512 or otherwise operably interfaces therewith. As willbe discussed in further detail below, in the illustrated example, theclosure linkage assembly 514 includes a transverse attachment pin 516that facilitates attachment to a corresponding drive system on thesurgical tool assembly. In use, to actuate the closure drive system 510,the clinician depresses the closure trigger 512 towards the pistol gripportion 504. As described in further detail in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/226,142, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SENSORSYSTEM, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272575, whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein, when theclinician fully depresses the closure trigger 512 to attain a “full”closure stroke, the closure drive system 510 is configured to lock theclosure trigger 512 into the fully depressed or fully actuated position.When the clinician desires to unlock the closure trigger 512 to permitit to be biased to the unactuated position, the clinician simplyactivates a closure release button assembly 518 which enables theclosure trigger 512 to return to the unactuated position. The closurerelease button assembly 518 may also be configured to interact withvarious sensors that communicate with a microcontroller 520 in thehandle assembly 500 for tracking the position of the closure trigger512. Further details concerning the configuration and operation of theclosure release button assembly 518 may be found in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2015/0272575.

In at least one form, the handle assembly 500 and the frame 506 mayoperably support another drive system referred to herein as a firingdrive system 530 that is configured to apply firing motions tocorresponding portions of the interchangeable surgical tool assemblythat is attached thereto. As was described in detail in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2015/0272575, the firing drive system 530may employ an electric motor 505 that is located in the pistol gripportion 504 of the handle assembly 500. In various forms, the motor 505may be a DC brushed driving motor having a maximum rotation of,approximately, 25,000 RPM, for example. In other arrangements, the motor505 may include a brushless motor, a cordless motor, a synchronousmotor, a stepper motor, or any other suitable electric motor. The motor505 may be powered by a power source 522 that in one form may comprise aremovable power pack. The power pack may support a plurality of LithiumIon (“LI”) or other suitable batteries therein. A number of batteriesmay be connected in series and may be used as the power source 522 forthe handle assembly 500. In addition, the power source 522 may bereplaceable and/or rechargeable.

The electric motor 505 is configured to axially drive a longitudinallymovable drive member 540 in distal and proximal directions dependingupon the polarity of the motor. For example, when the motor 505 isdriven in one rotary direction, the longitudinally movable drive member540 will be axially driven in the distal direction “DD”. When the motor505 is driven in the opposite rotary direction, the longitudinallymovable drive member 540 will be axially driven in a proximal direction“PD”. The handle assembly 500 can include a switch 513 which can beconfigured to reverse the polarity applied to the electric motor 505 bythe power source 522 or otherwise control the motor 505. The handleassembly 500 can also include a sensor or sensors (not shown) that isconfigured to detect the position of the drive member 540 and/or thedirection in which the drive member 540 is being moved. Actuation of themotor 505 can be controlled by a firing trigger 532 that is pivotallysupported on the handle assembly 500. The firing trigger 532 may bepivoted between an unactuated position and an actuated position. Thefiring trigger 532 may be biased into the unactuated position by aspring (not shown) or other biasing arrangement such that when theclinician releases the firing trigger 532, it may be pivoted orotherwise returned to the unactuated position by the spring or biasingarrangement. In at least one form, the firing trigger 532 can bepositioned “outboard” of the closure trigger 512 as was discussed above.As discussed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272575,the handle assembly 500 may be equipped with a firing trigger safetybutton (not shown) to prevent inadvertent actuation of the firingtrigger 532. When the closure trigger 512 is in the unactuated position,the safety button is contained in the handle assembly 500 where theclinician cannot readily access it and move it between a safety positionpreventing actuation of the firing trigger 532 and a firing positionwherein the firing trigger 532 may be fired. As the clinician depressesthe closure trigger 512, the safety button and the firing trigger 532may pivot down wherein they can then be manipulated by the clinician.

In at least one form, the longitudinally movable drive member 540 mayhave a rack of teeth (not shown) formed thereon for meshing engagementwith a corresponding drive gear arrangement (not shown) that interfaceswith the motor 505. Further details regarding those features may befound in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272575. At leastone form also includes a manually-actuatable “bailout” assembly that isconfigured to enable the clinician to manually retract thelongitudinally movable drive member 540 should the motor 505 becomedisabled. The bailout assembly may include a lever or bailout handleassembly that is stored within the handle assembly 500 under areleasable door 550. The lever is configured to be manually pivoted intoratcheting engagement with the teeth in the drive member 540. Thus, theclinician can manually retract the drive member 540 by using the bailouthandle assembly to ratchet the drive member 540 in the proximaldirection “PD”. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/249,117, entitledPOWERED SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING APPARATUS WITH MANUALLYRETRACTABLE FIRING SYSTEM, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2010/0089970, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference herein, discloses bailout arrangements and other components,arrangements and systems that may also be employed with the toolassembly 1000.

Turning now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the interchangeable surgical toolassembly 1000 includes a shaft mounting portion 1300 that is operablyattached to an elongate shaft assembly 1400. A surgical end effector1100 that comprises an elongate channel 1102 that is configured tooperably support a staple cartridge 1110 therein is operably attached tothe elongate shaft assembly 1400. See FIGS. 3 and 4. The end effector1100 may further include an anvil 1130 that is pivotally supportedrelative to the elongate channel 1102. The elongate channel 1102 staplecartridge assembly 1110 and the anvil 1130 may also be referred to as“jaws”. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 may furtherinclude an articulation joint 1200 and an articulation lock 1210 (FIGS.3 and 4) which can be configured to releasably hold the end effector1100 in a desired articulated position about an articulation axis B-Bwhich is transverse to a shaft axis SA. Details regarding theconstruction and operation of the articulation lock 1210 may be found inin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,086, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION LOCK, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263541, the entire disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein. Additional detailsconcerning the articulation lock 1210 may also be found in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/019,196, filed Feb. 9, 2016, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT ARTICULATION MECHANISM WITH SLOTTED SECONDARY CONSTRAINT, theentire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the shaft mounting portion 1300includes a proximal housing or nozzle 1301 comprised of nozzle portions1302, 1304 as well as an actuator wheel portion 1306 that is configuredto be coupled to the assembled nozzle portions 1302, 1304 by snaps,lugs, screws etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the interchangeablesurgical tool assembly 1000 further includes a closure assembly 1406which can be utilized to close and/or open the anvil 1130 and theelongate channel 1102 of the end effector 1100 as will be discussed infurther detail below. In addition, the illustrated interchangeablesurgical tool assembly 1000 includes a spine assembly 1500 which isoperably supports the articulation lock 1210. The spine assembly 1500 isconfigured to, one, slidably support a firing member assembly 1600therein and, two, slidably support the closure assembly 1406 whichextends around the spine assembly 1500 or is otherwise movably supportedthereby.

In the illustrated arrangement, the surgical end effector 1100 isoperably coupled to the elongate shaft assembly 1400 by an articulationjoint 1200 that facilitates selective articulation of the surgical endeffector 1100 about an articulation axis B-B that is transverse to theshaft axis SA. See FIG. 3. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the spine assembly1500 slidably supports a proximal articulation driver 1700 that operablyinterfaces with an articulation lock 1210. The articulation lock 1210 issupported on a distal frame segment 1560 that also comprises a portionof the spine assembly 1500. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the distal framesegment 1560 is pivotally coupled to the elongate channel 1102 by an endeffector mounting assembly 1230. In one arrangement, for example, adistal end 1562 of the distal frame segment 1560 has an articulation pin1564 formed thereon. The articulation pin 1564 is adapted to bepivotally received within an articulation pivot hole 1234 formed in apivot base portion 1232 of the end effector mounting assembly 1230. Theend effector mounting assembly 1230 is pivotally attached to a proximalend 1103 of the elongate channel 1102 by a pair of laterally extendingjaw attachment pins 1235 that are rotatably received within jaw pivotholes 1104 that are provided in the proximal end 1103 of the elongatechannel 1102. The jaw attachment pins 1235 define a jaw pivot axis JAthat is substantially traverse to the shaft axis SA. See FIG. 3. Thearticulation pivot pin 1564 defines an articulation axis B-B that istransverse to the shaft axis SA. Such arrangement facilitates pivotaltravel (i.e., articulation) of the end effector 1100 about thearticulation axis B-B relative to the spine assembly 1500.

Referring again to FIG. 4, in the illustrated embodiment, thearticulation driver 1700 has a distal end 1702 that is configured tooperably engage the articulation lock 1210. The articulation lock 1210includes an articulation frame 1212 that is pivotally coupled to anarticulation link 1214 that is adapted to operably engage anarticulation drive pin 1236 on the pivot base portion 1232 of the endeffector mounting assembly 1230. As indicated above, further detailsregarding the operation of the articulation lock 1210 and thearticulation frame 1212 may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/803,086, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541.Further details regarding the end effector mounting assembly andarticulation link 1214 may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/019,245, filed Feb. 9, 2016, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITHCLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION ARRANGEMENTS, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

In various circumstances, the spine assembly 1500 further includes aproximal spine channel 1510 that may be fabricated out of pressed, bentor machined material. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the proximal spinechannel 1510 is essentially C-shaped (when viewed from a distal end) andis configured to operably support the firing member assembly 1600between side wall portions 1512 thereof. As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and7, the spine assembly 1500 further comprises a proximal spine mountingsegment 1530 that is rotatably pinned to a distal end 1514 of theproximal spine channel 1510 by a spine pin 1550. The proximal spinemounting segment 1530 comprises a proximal end portion 1532 that hasopposing notches 1535 (only one can be seen in FIG. 7) for receiving acorresponding mounting lug 1308 (shown in FIG. 5) that protrude inwardlyfrom each of the nozzle portions 1302, 1304. Such arrangementfacilitates rotation of the proximal spine mounting segment 1530 aboutthe shaft axis SA by rotating the nozzle 1301 about the shaft axis SA.In the illustrated arrangement, the proximal spine mounting segment 1530further comprises a distally protruding lower shaft segment 1534 and adistally protruding upper shaft segment 1536 that is spaced from thelower shaft segment 1534. See FIG. 7. Each of the shaft segments 1534,1536 has an arcuate cross-sectional shape. The lower shaft segment 1534is received within the proximal end 1514 of the proximal spine channel1510. The spine pin 1550 extends through a pivot hole 1516 in theproximal end of the proximal spine channel 1510 and a pivot hole 1538 inthe lower shaft segment 1534. The spine pin 1550 includes a verticalgroove 1552 that forms two upstanding sidewall portions 1554. The upperends of the side wall portions 1554 are received within correspondingpockets 1539 that are formed in the proximal spine mounting segment1530.

The interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 includes a chassis 1800that rotatably supported the shaft assembly 1400. The proximal endportion 1532 of the proximal spine mounting segment is rotatablysupported in a central shaft hole 1801 that is formed in the chassis1800. See FIG. 6. In one arrangement, for example, the proximal endportion 1532 may be threaded for attachment to a spine bearing (notshown) or other wise supported in a spine bearing that is mounted withinthe chassis 1800. Such an arrangement facilitates rotatable attachmentof the spine assembly 1500 to the chassis 1800 such that the spineassembly 1500 may be selectively rotated about a shaft axis SA relativeto the chassis 1800.

The closure assembly 1406 comprises an elongate intermediate closuremember 1410, a distal closure member 1430 and a proximal closure member1480. In the illustrated arrangement, the proximal closure member 1480comprises a hollow tubular member that is slidably supported on aportion of the spine assembly 1500. Hence, the proximal closure member1480 may also be referred to herein as the proximal closure tube.Similarly, the intermediate closure member 1410 may also be referred toherein as the intermediate closure tube and the distal closure member1430 may also be referred to as the distal closure tube. Referringprimarily to FIG. 6, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000includes a closure shuttle 1420 that is slidably supported within thechassis 1800 such that it may be axially moved relative thereto. In oneform, the closure shuttle 1420 includes a pair of proximally-protrudinghooks 1421 that are configured for attachment to the attachment pin 516(FIG. 2) that is attached to the closure linkage assembly 514 of thehandle assembly 500. Thus, when the hooks 1421 are hooked over the pin516, actuation of the closure trigger 512 will result in the axialmovement of the closure shuttle 1420 and ultimately, the closureassembly 1406 on the spine assembly 1500. A closure spring (not shown)may also be journaled on the closure assembly 1406 and serves to biasthe closure member assembly 1406 in the proximal direction “PD” whichcan serve to pivot the closure trigger 512 into the unactuated positionwhen the tool assembly 1000 is operably coupled to the handle assembly500. In use, the closure member assembly 1406 is translated distally(direction DD) to close the anvil 1130, for example, in response to theactuation of the closure trigger 512.

The closure linkage 514 may also be referred to herein as a “closureactuator” and the closure linkage 514 and the closure shuttle 1420 maybe collectively referred to herein as a “closure actuator assembly”. Aproximal end 1482 of the proximal closure member 1480 is coupled to theclosure shuttle 1420 for relative rotation thereto. For example, aU-shaped connector 1485 is inserted into an annular slot 1484 in theproximal end 1482 of the proximal closure member 1480 and is retainedwithin vertical slots 1422 in the closure shuttle 1420. See FIG. 6. Sucharrangement serves to attach the proximal closure member 1480 to theclosure shuttle 1420 for axial travel therewith while enabling theclosure assembly 1406 to rotate relative to the closure shuttle 1420about the shaft axis SA.

As indicated above, the illustrated interchangeable surgical toolassembly 1000 includes an articulation joint 1200. As can be seen inFIG. 4, upper and lower tangs 1415, 1416 protrude distally from a distalend of the intermediate closure member 1410 to be movably coupled to thedistal closure member 1430. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the distal closuremember 1430 includes upper and lower tangs 1434, 1436 that protrudeproximally from a proximal end thereof. The intermediate closure member1410 and the distal closure member 1430 are coupled together by an upperdouble pivot link 1220. The upper double pivot link 1220 includesproximal and distal pins that engage corresponding holes in the uppertangs 1415, 1434 of the proximal closure member 1410 and distal closuremember 1430, respectively. The intermediate closure member 1410 and thedistal closure member 1430 are also coupled together by a lower doublepivot link 1222. The lower double pivot link 1222 includes proximal anddistal pins that engage corresponding holes in the lower tangs 1416 and1436 of the intermediate closure member 1410 and distal closure member1430, respectively. As will be discussed in further detail below, distaland proximal axial translation of the closure assembly 1406 will resultin the closing and opening of the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel1102.

As mentioned above, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000further includes a firing member assembly 1600 that is supported foraxial travel within the spine assembly 1500. In the illustratedembodiment, the firing member assembly 1600 includes a proximal firingshaft segment 1602, an intermediate firing shaft segment 1610 and adistal cutting portion or distal firing bar 1620. The firing memberassembly 1600 may also be referred to herein as a “second shaft” and/ora “second shaft assembly”. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the proximal firingshaft segment 1602 may be formed with a distal mounting lug 1604 that isconfigured to be received with a corresponding cradle or groove 1613 inthe proximal end 1612 of the intermediate firing shaft segment 1610. Aproximal attachment lug 1606 is protrudes proximally from a proximal endof the proximal firing shaft segment 1602 and is configured to beoperably received within the firing shaft attachment cradle 542 in thelongitudinally movable drive member 540 that is supported in the handleassembly 500. See FIG. 2.

Referring again to FIG. 6, a distal end 1616 of the intermediate firingshaft segment 1610 includes a longitudinal slot 1618 which is configuredto receive a tab (not shown) on the proximal end of the distal firingbar 1620. The longitudinal slot 1618 and the proximal end of the distalfiring bar 1620 can be sized and configured to permit relative movementtherebetween and can comprise a slip joint 1622. The slip joint 1622 canpermit the proximal firing shaft segment 1602 and the intermediatefiring shaft segment 1610 of the firing member assembly 1600 to move asa unit during the articulation action without moving, or at leastsubstantially moving, the distal firing bar 1620. Once the end effector1100 has been suitably oriented, the proximal firing shaft segment 1602and the intermediate firing shaft segment 1610 can be advanced distallyuntil a proximal end wall of the longitudinal slot 1618 comes intocontact with the tab on the distal firing bar 1620 to advance the distalfiring bar 1620 and fire the staple cartridge 1110 that is positionedwithin the elongate channel 1102. As can be further seen in FIG. 6, tofacilitate assembly, the proximal firing shaft segment 1602, theintermediate firing shaft segment 1610 and the distal firing bar 1620may be inserted as a unit into the proximal spine channel 1510 and a topspine cover 1527 may be engaged with the proximal spine channel 1510 toenclose those portions of the firing member assembly 1600 therein.

Further to the above, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000includes a clutch assembly 1640 which can be configured to selectivelyand releasably couple the articulation driver 1700 to the firing memberassembly 1600. In one form, the clutch assembly 1640 includes a rotarylock assembly that in at least one embodiment comprises a lock collar,or lock sleeve 1650 that is positioned around the firing member assembly1600. The lock sleeve 1650 is configured to be rotated between anengaged position in which the lock sleeve 1650 couples the articulationdriver 1700 to the firing member assembly 1600 and a disengaged positionin which the articulation driver 1700 is not operably coupled to thefiring member assembly 1600. When lock sleeve 1650 is in its engagedposition, distal movement of the firing member assembly 1600 can movethe articulation driver 1700 distally and, correspondingly, proximalmovement of the firing member assembly 1600 can move the articulationdriver 1700 proximally. When lock sleeve 1650 is in its disengagedposition, movement of the firing member assembly 1600 is not transmittedto the articulation driver 1700 and, as a result, the firing memberassembly 1600 can move independently of the articulation driver 1700. Invarious circumstances, the articulation driver 1700 can be held inposition by the articulation lock 1210 when the articulation driver 1700is not being moved in the proximal or distal directions by the firingmember assembly 1600.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 8 and 9, the lock sleeve 1650 comprises acylindrical, or an at least substantially cylindrical, body including alongitudinal aperture 1652 defined therein configured to receive theproximal firing shaft segment 1602 of the firing member assembly 1600.The lock sleeve 1650 also has two diametrically-opposed, inwardly-facinglock protrusions 1654 formed thereon. Only one lock protrusion 1654 canbe seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. The lock protrusions 1654 can be configured tobe selectively engaged with the proximal firing shaft segment 1602 ofthe firing member assembly 1600. More particularly, when the lock sleeve1650 is in its engaged position (FIG. 8), the lock protrusions 1654 arepositioned within a drive notch 1603 that is provided in the proximalfiring shaft segment 1602 such that a distal pushing force and/or aproximal pulling force can be transmitted from the firing memberassembly 1600 to the lock sleeve 1650. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9,an articulation drive notch 1655 is provided in a distal end portion ofthe lock sleeve 1650 for attachment to a proximal end 1704 of theproximal articulation driver 1700. In the illustrated arrangement, forexample, the proximal end 1704 includes a driver notch 1706 that isconfigured to engage the drive notch 1655 in the lock sleeve 1650. Suchattachment arrangement enables the lock sleeve 1650 to be rotatedrelative to the proximal articulation driver 1700 while remainingattached thereto. When the lock sleeve 1650 is in an “articulation mode”or orientation (FIG. 8), a distal pushing force and/or a proximalpulling force that is applied to the proximal firing shaft segment 1602is also transmitted to the lock sleeve 1650 and the proximalarticulation driver 1700 that is coupled thereto. In effect, the firingmember assembly 1600, the lock sleeve 1650, and the proximalarticulation driver 1700 will move together when the lock sleeve 1650 isin the articulation mode. On the other hand, when the lock sleeve 1650is in its “firing mode” (FIG. 9), the lock protrusions 1654 are notpositioned within the drive notch 1603 in the proximal firing shaftsegment 1602 of the firing member assembly 1600. When in that position,a distal pushing force and/or a proximal pulling force applied to theproximal firing shaft segment 1602 is not transmitted to the lock sleeve1650 and the proximal articulation driver 1700. In such circumstances,the firing member assembly 1600 can move proximally and/or distallyrelative to the lock sleeve 1650 and the proximal articulation driver1700.

The illustrated clutch assembly 1640 further includes a switch drum 1660that interfaces with the lock sleeve 1650. The switch drum 1660comprises a hollow shaft segment that operably interfaces with a shiftplate assembly 1680 that is supported therein. The shift plate assembly1680 comprises a body portion 1681 that has a shift pin 1682 thatprotrudes laterally therefrom. The shift pin 1682 extends into a shiftpin slot 1662 that is provided through a wall portion of the shift drum1660. The body portion 1681 of the shift plate assembly 1680 has a slideslot 1683 formed therein that is sized and configured to interface witha slide boss 1656 that protrudes from a proximal end of the slide lock1650. The switch drum 1660 can further include openings 1664 whichpermit the inwardly extending mounting lugs 1308 that extend from thenozzle halves 1302, 1304 to extend therethrough to be seating receivedwithin the corresponding notches 1535 in the proximal spine mountingsegment 1530. See FIG. 5. Such arrangement facilitates rotation of theshaft assembly 1400 about the shaft axis SA by rotating the nozzle 1301.

Also in the illustrated embodiment, the switch drum 1660 includes amagnet support arm 1665 that supports an articulation magnet 1708 and afiring magnet 1611 therein. The articulation magnet 1708 and firingmagnet 1611 are configured to operably interface with a Hall effectsensor 1632 that interfaces with a slip ring assembly 1630 that isoperably mounted to the chassis 1800. The slip ring assembly 1630 isconfigured to conduct electrical power to and/or from theinterchangeable surgical shaft assembly 1000 and/or communicate signalsto and/or from the interchangeable shaft assembly 1000 components backto the microcontroller 520 in the handle assembly 500 (FIG. 2) orrobotic system controller, for example. Further details concerning theslip ring assembly 1630 and associated connectors may be found in U.S.Pat. No. 9,045,203 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,196 whichhave each been herein incorporated by reference in their respectiveentirety as well as in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/800,067,entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE TISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM, now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263552, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The articulationmagnet 1708 and the firing magnet 1611 cooperate with the Hall effectsensor 1632 or other sensor arrangement to detect the rotary position ofthe switch drum 1660 and convey that information to the microcontroller520 which may serve to provide an indication or indications to the userin the various manners discussed in the aforementioned incorporatedreferences. Other sensor arrangements may also be employed.

In various circumstances, the handle assembly 500 may be used to controla variety of different interchangeable surgical tool assemblies that areconfigured to perform various surgical procedures. As briefly mentionedabove, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 may also beeffectively used in connection with robotic systems and automatedsurgical systems that each may be referred to herein as “controlsystems” or “control units”. Such control systems or control units mayoperably support firing systems and closure systems that are configuredupon actuation to move a firing actuation component or “firing actuator”(in the case of the firing system) and a closure actuation component or“closure actuator” (in the case of the closure system) a correspondingaxial distance to apply control motions to corresponding componentswithin the interchangeable tool assembly. In one arrangement, when aclosure system in the handle assembly (or robotic system) is fullyactuated, a closure actuator may move axially from an unactuatedposition to its fully actuated position. The axial distance that theclosure component moves between its unactuated position to its fullyactuated position may be referred to herein as its “closure strokelength” or a “first closure distance”. Similarly, when a firing systemin the handle assembly or robotic system is fully actuated, one of thefiring system components may move axially from its unactuated positionto its fully actuated or fired position. The axial distance that thefiring member component moves between its unactuated position and itsfully fired position may be referred to herein as its “firing strokelength” or “first firing distance”. For those surgical tool assembliesthat employ articulatable end effector arrangements, the handle assemblyor robotic system may employ articulation control components that moveaxially through an “articulation drive stroke length” or a “firstarticulation distance”. In many circumstances, the closure strokelength, the firing stroke length and the articulation drive strokelength are fixed for a particular handle assembly or robotic system.Thus, each of the interchangeable surgical tool assemblies that areconfigured to be used in connection with such control units or systemsmust be able to accommodate control movements of the closure, firingand/or articulation components/actuators through each of their entirestroke lengths without placing undue stress on the surgical toolcomponents which might lead to damage or catastrophic failure ofsurgical tool assembly. Examples of surgical tool assemblies that havearrangements for reducing the axial closure stroke of an actuator systemare disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,245, filed Feb.9, 2016, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTIONARRANGEMENTS, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference herein. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0174977,entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING AN ARTICULATABLE ENDEFFECTOR AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE FIRING STROKE OF A FIRING MEMBERdiscloses arrangements for adjusting the firing stroke of a firingmember.

Depending upon the jaw arrangement of the end effector portion of theinterchangeable surgical tool assembly that is operably coupled to thehandle assembly 500, the closure drive system 510 in the handle assembly500, when fully actuated, may generate a closure stroke or first axialclosure distance that is too long for such a jaw arrangement. Theillustrated embodiment of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly1000 employs a closure stroke reduction assembly generally designated as1720 to reduce the amount of closure stroke that is applied to the endeffector when the closure drive system 510 is fully actuated. Forexample, the closure drive system 510 in one form of the handle assembly500 may generate axial closure motions so as to move the closureactuator (e.g., the closure linkage 514—FIG. 2) or closure actuatorassembly (e.g., the closure linkage 514, and the closure shuttle 1420)axially forward and backward about 0.240″-0.260″. Such axial controltravel may be well-suited for surgical end effectors that are equippedwith an anvil or jaw arrangement that moves distally relative to thechannel or jaw arrangements to which they are attached. Because the jawsare pivotally coupled together about a fixed jaw axis JA, they may bebetter suited for a shorter closure stroke. Stated another way, theanvil 1130 does not move distally relative to the elongate channel 1102.For example, such arrangement may be better suited for a closure strokerange of approximately 0.1″-0.150″. As will be discussed in furtherdetail below, upon full actuation of the closure drive system 510 in thehandle assembly 500, the closure shuttle 1420 and the proximal closuremember 1480 may move approximately the 0.260″ in the distal direction DD(“first closure stroke distance”). However, the closure stroke reductionassembly 1720 reduces the amount of closure stroke that is applied tothe intermediate closure member 1410 and ultimately to the distalclosure member 1430 (“second closure stroke distance”). In somearrangements, for example, the closure stroke reduction assembly 1720may reduce the magnitude of the closure stroke that is applied to theintermediate closure member 1410 and distal closure member 1430 toapproximately 0.1″, for example. It will be appreciated that otheramounts of closure stroke reduction could conceivably be achieved.

Referring now to FIGS. 12A and 12B, in one form, the closure strokereduction assembly 1720 includes a closure reduction linkage 1730 thatis attached to a closure member mounting member or mounting ring 1740.As can be seen in FIGS. 6, 12A and 12B, the intermediate closure member1410 has a proximal attachment flange 1414 that is formed on a proximalend portion 1412. The mounting ring 1740 is sized to slidably movewithin the proximal closure member 1480 and includes a mounting groove1742 for receiving the attachment flange 1414 therein. Such arrangementserves to attach the mounting ring 1740 to the intermediate closuremember 1410. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure reductionlinkage 1730 comprises a proximal link 1732 and a distal link 1734 thatare pivotally attached together by an actuator pin 1736. The proximallink 1732 is pivotally pinned to an upstanding attachment wall 1518 thatis formed on the proximal spine channel 1510. The distal link 1734 ispivotally pinned to the mounting ring 1740. The closure reductionlinkage 1730 is actuated by axially moving the proximal closure member1480. In at least one arrangement, for example, the actuator pin 1736 isslidably journaled in a cam slot 1486 that is provided in the proximalclosure member 1480. The actuator pin 1736 also extends inwardly to beslidably received within a slide track 1658 that is formed on a proximalend portion of the lock sleeve 1650. Thus, when the proximal closuremember 1480 is moved to its distal-most position, the actuator pin 1736is in the proximal end of the cam slot 1486 such that the closurereduction linkage 1730 is in its fully extended position as shown inFIGS. 12B and 14. When the proximal closure member 1480 is in itsproximal-most position, the closure reduction linkage 1730 is in itsretracted position (FIGS. 12A and 13).

As was briefly discussed above, the shift plate assembly 1680 comprisesa body portion 1681 that has a shift pin 1682 that laterally protrudestherefrom. The shift pin 1682 extends into a shift pin slot 1662 that isprovided through a wall portion of the switch drum 1660. The shift pin1682 also extends through a cam opening 1490 that is provided in theproximal closure member 1480. See FIGS. 10 and 11. The cam opening 1490in the illustrated arrangement includes a travel portion 1492 that issufficiently long enough so as to permit a predetermined amount of axialtravel of the proximal closure member assembly 1480 relative to theshift pin 1682 and a firing portion 1494. In at least one arrangement,the shift plate 1680 is constrained to only rotate a short distancearound the shaft axis SA and is constrained not to move axially withinthe switch drum 1660. This rotary travel of the shift plate 1680 and theshift pin 1682 may be observed from reference to FIGS. 8-11.

FIGS. 8, 10 and 12A illustrate the clutch assembly 1640 in thearticulation mode and FIGS. 9, 11 and 12B, illustrate the clutchassembly 1640 in the firing mode. The clutch assembly 1640 is moved fromthe articulation mode to the firing mode by moving the proximal closuremember 1480 to it distal-most position which corresponds to a “fullyclosed” position of the end effector jaws (elongate channel 1102 andanvil 1130). The proximal closure member 1480 is moved distally bydepressing the closure trigger 512 on the handle assembly 500. Asdiscussed above, when the closure trigger 512 is depressed, the closureshuttle 1420 is advanced distally. Because the proximal closure member1480 is supported in the closure shuttle 1420, the proximal closuremember 1480 moves distally as well. When the clutch assembly 1640 is inthe articulation mode, the shift pin 1682 is located about midway(lengthwise) within the travel portion 1492 of the cam opening 1490 inthe proximal closure member 1480. Thus, the proximal closure member 1480can be moved back and forth axially (by means of depressing and at leastpartially releasing the closure trigger 512) a short distance toeffectively move the jaws (anvil 1130 and elongate channel 1102) betweenopen and closed positions without moving the clutch assembly 1640 intothe firing mode. Thus, the clinician can use the jaws to grasp andmanipulate tissue without moving the jaws to a fully closed position andwithout shifting the clutch assembly 1640 to the firing mode. However,when the clinician desires to fully close the jaws, the clinician fullydepresses the closure trigger 512 to the fully actuated position. Thisaction causes the proximal closure member 1480 to move to itsdistal-most axial position. See FIGS. 9, 11 and 12B. When the proximalclosure member 1480 moves to this position, the proximal cam wall 1491of the cam opening 1490 contacts the shift pin 1682 and cams the shiftpin 1682 (and the shift plate 1680) to the firing orientation shown inFIGS. 9 and 11. In the illustrated embodiment, a torsional shift spring1667 is journaled on the switch drum 1660 and is configured to rotatebias the switch drum 1660 into the position corresponding to thearticulation mode. See FIG. 10. The shift pin 1682 is in the bottom ofthe shift pin slot 1662 in the switch drum 1660 and is thereby moved tothe articulation position shown in FIG. 10. To apply the torsionalbiasing force to the switch drum 1660, one end 1668 of the torsionspring 1667 is attached to the switch drum 1660 and the other end 1669is attached to nozzle 1301. Further details concerning the operation ofthe clutch assembly 1640 and the closure stroke reduction assembly 1720are provided below.

FIG. 12A illustrates the positions of the closure stroke reductionassembly 1730 and the intermediate closure member 1410 when the proximalclosure member 1480 is in an unactuated position. This “unactuated”position may correspond to the orientations of the jaws of the surgicalend effector when the jaws are in their respective “fully opened”positions. For reference purposes, the unactuated position of theproximal closure member 1480 is represented by a starting witness lineSWL_(p) and the unactuated position of the intermediate closure member1410 is represented by starting witness line SWL_(i). FIG. 12Billustrates the positions of the of the closure stroke reductionassembly 1730 and the intermediate closure member 1410 when the proximalclosure member 1480 is in a fully actuated position which may correspondto the orientations of the jaws of the surgical end effector when thejaws are in their respective “fully closed” positions. As was brieflydiscussed above, when the proximal closure member 1480 is in the fullyactuated position, actuation of the firing trigger 532 will cause thefiring member assembly 1600 to be advanced distally. For referencepurposes, the fully actuated position of the proximal closure segment1480 is represented by an ending witness line EWL_(p). The fullyactuated position of the intermediate closure member 1410 is representedby a ending witness line EWL_(i). The axial distance that the proximalclosure member 1480 traveled between the unactuated position and thefully actuated position is represented by distance D₁. In one example,D₁ may be approximately 0.260″. The axial distance that the intermediateclosure member 1410 (and ultimately the distal closure member 1430)traveled between the unactuated position and the fully actuated positionis represented by distance D₂. As can be seen in FIGS. 12A and 12B,D₁>D₂. In the above-referenced example, D₂ may be approximately 0.1″.Thus, the intermediate closure member 1410 and the distal closure member1430 traveled a shorter axial distance than did the proximal closuremember 1480. Such arrangement permits the jaw arrangements of thesurgical end effector 1100 to better utilize the closure motionsgenerated by the closure drive system 510 in the handle assembly 500 andavoid potential damage that might otherwise result if the full range ofclosure motions were applied to the end effector.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 6, the chassis 1800 includes at leastone, and preferably two, tapered attachment portions 1802 that areformed thereon and are adapted to be received within correspondingdovetail slots 507 that are formed within the distal end portion of theframe 506 of the handle assembly 500. As can be further seen in FIG. 2,a shaft attachment lug 1606 is formed on the proximal end of theproximal firing shaft segment 1602. As will be discussed in furtherdetail below, when the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 iscoupled to the handle assembly 500, the shaft attachment lug 1606 isreceived in a firing shaft attachment cradle 542 that is formed in thedistal end of the longitudinal drive member 540. See FIG. 2.

The interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 employs a latch system1810 for removably coupling the interchangeable surgical tool assembly1000 to the frame 506 of the handle assembly 500. As can be seen in FIG.5, for example, in at least one form, the latch system 1810 includes alock member or lock yoke 1812 that is movably coupled to the chassis1800. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the lock yoke 1812 hasa U-shape and includes two downwardly extending legs 1814. The legs 1814each have a pivot lug (not shown) formed thereon that is adapted to bereceived in corresponding holes 1816 that are formed in the chassis1800. Such arrangement facilitates pivotal attachment of the lock yoke1812 to the chassis 1800. See FIG. 6. The lock yoke 1812 may include twoproximally protruding lock lugs 1818 that are configured for releasableengagement with corresponding lock detents or grooves 509 in the distalend of the frame 506 of the handle assembly 500. See FIG. 2. In variousforms, the lock yoke 1812 is biased in the proximal direction by aspring or biasing member 1819. Actuation of the lock yoke 1812 may beaccomplished by a latch button 1820 that is slidably mounted on a latchactuator assembly 1822 that is mounted to the chassis 1800. The latchbutton 1820 may be biased in a proximal direction relative to the lockyoke 1812. The lock yoke 1812 may be moved to an unlocked position bybiasing the latch button 1820 the in distal direction which also causesthe lock yoke 1812 to pivot out of retaining engagement with the distalend of the frame 506. When the lock yoke 1812 is in “retainingengagement” with the distal end of the frame 506, the lock lugs 1818 areretainingly seated within the corresponding lock detents or grooves 509in the distal end of the frame 506.

In the illustrated arrangement, the lock yoke 1812 includes at least oneand preferably two lock hooks 1824 that are adapted to contactcorresponding lock lug portions 1426 that are formed on the closureshuttle 1420. When the closure shuttle 1420 is in an unactuatedposition, the lock yoke 1812 may be pivoted in a distal direction tounlock the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 from the handleassembly 500. When in that position, the lock hooks 1824 do not contactthe lock lug portions 1426 on the closure shuttle 1420. However, whenthe closure shuttle 1420 is moved to an actuated position, the lock yoke1812 is prevented from being pivoted to an unlocked position. Statedanother way, if the clinician were to attempt to pivot the lock yoke1812 to an unlocked position or, for example, the lock yoke 1812 was inadvertently bumped or contacted in a manner that might otherwise causeit to pivot distally, the lock hooks 1824 on the lock yoke 1812 willcontact the lock lugs 1426 on the closure shuttle 1420 and preventmovement of the lock yoke 1812 to an unlocked position. See FIG. 5.Further details concerning the latching system may be found in U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541.

Attachment of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 to thehandle assembly 500 will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. Tocommence the coupling process, the clinician may position the chassis1800 of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 above oradjacent to the distal end of the frame 506 such that the taperedattachment portions 1802 formed on the chassis 1800 are aligned with thedovetail slots 507 in the frame 506. The clinician may then move thesurgical tool assembly 1000 along an installation axis IA that isperpendicular to the shaft axis SA to seat the tapered attachmentportions 1802 in “operable engagement” with the corresponding dovetailreceiving slots 507 in the distal end of the frame 506. In doing so, theshaft attachment lug 1606 on the proximal firing shaft segment 1602 willalso be seated in the cradle 542 in the longitudinally movable drivemember 540 and the portions of pin 516 on the closure link 514 will beseated in the corresponding hooks 1421 in the closure shuttle 1420. Asused herein, the term “operable engagement” in the context of twocomponents means that the two components are sufficiently engaged witheach other so that upon application of an actuation motion thereto, thecomponents may carry out their intended action, function and/orprocedure.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the distal firing bar 1620 may comprise alaminated beam structure that includes at least two beam layers. Suchbeam layers may comprise, for example, stainless steel bands that areinterconnected by, for example, welding or pinning together at theirproximal ends and/or at other locations along their length. Inalternative embodiments, the distal ends of the bands are not connectedtogether to allow the laminates or bands to splay relative to each otherwhen the end effector is articulated. Such arrangement permits thedistal firing bar 1620 to be sufficiently flexible to accommodatearticulation of the end effector. Various laminated knife bararrangements are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/019,245. As can also be seen in FIG. 4, a middle support member 1614is employed to provide lateral support to the distal firing bar 1620 asit flexes to accommodate articulation of the surgical end effector 1100.Further details concerning the middle support member and alternativeknife bar support arrangements are disclosed in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/019,245.

After the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 has been operablycoupled to the handle assembly 500 (FIG. 1), the clinician may operatethe surgical tool assembly 10 as follows. As discussed above, when theclosure drive system 510 is in its unactuated position (i.e., theclosure trigger 512 has not been actuated), the torsion spring 1667 hasbiased the clutch assembly 1640 and, more particularly, the switch pin1682 and the lock sleeve 1650 into the articulation position. See FIGS.8, 10 and 12A. As can be seen in FIG. 8, when in that position, the lockprotrusions 1654 in the lock sleeve 1650 are received within the drivenotch 1603 in the proximal firing shaft segment 1602. As can be seen inFIG. 10, when in that mode, the articulation magnet 1708 is in positionrelative to the Hall effect sensor 1632 so as to indicate to themicrocontroller 520 that the tool assembly 1000 is in the articulationmode. When the clinician actuates the firing trigger 512, the motordrives the proximal firing shaft segment 1602 distally. As mentionedabove, however, the slip joint 1622 facilitates movement of the proximalfiring shaft segment 1602 and the intermediate firing shaft segment 1610without moving, or at least substantially moving, the distal firing bar1620. Because the lock sleeve 1650 is in operable engagement with theproximal firing shaft segment 1602 and the proximal articulation driver1700 is in engagement with the lock sleeve 1650, actuation of theproximal firing shaft segment 1602 results in the distal movement of thearticulation driver 1700. Distal movement of the articulation driver1700 causes the surgical end effector 1000 to articulate around thearticulation axis B-B. During this time, the clinician can alsopartially close the jaws of the end effector 1100 by partiallydepressing the closure trigger. Such axial movement of the proximalclosure member 1480 without automatically shifting the clutch assembly1640 to the firing mode is accommodated by the travel portion 1492 ofthe cam opening 1490 in the proximal closure member 1480. See FIG. 10.This feature enables the clinician to use the jaws to grasp andmanipulate tissue prior to clamping onto the target tissue.

Once the clinician has articulated the end effector 1100 into a desiredposition and the jaws have been positioned in a desired orientationrelative to the target tissue, the clinician releases the firing trigger532 which will discontinue the motorized movement of the proximal firingshaft segment 1602 as well as the proximal articulation driver 1700. Thearticulation lock 1210 will lock the proximal articulation driver 1700in that position to prevent further articulation of the end effector1100. The clinician may clamp the target tissue between the jaws bydepressing the closure trigger 512 to the fully depressed position. Suchaction moves the proximal closure member 1480 distally. Such distalmovement of the proximal closure member 1480 causes the switch pin 1682to rotate downward within the cam opening 1490 as it is contacted by thecam wall 1491. See FIG. 11. Referring now to FIG. 11, movement of theshift pin 1682 downwardly within cam opening 1490 causes the shift plate1680 to rotate the lock sleeve 1650 to rotate to a disengaged positionwith the proximal firing shaft segment 1602. When in that position, thelock protrusions 1654 have disengaged from the drive notch 1603 in theproximal firing shaft segment 1602. Thus, the proximal firing shaftsegment 1602 can move axially without moving the lock sleeve 1650 andthe proximal articulation driver 1700. As the proximal closure member1480 is moved distally to the fully actuated position (by depressing theclosure trigger 512), the closure stroke reduction assembly 1730 movesthe intermediate closure member 1410 distally a reduced axial distanceas was discussed above. This axial motion is applied to the distalclosure member 1430 and ultimately moves the jaws to the fully closedposition. When in this position, the closure drive system 510 system inthe handle assembly 500 may be locked and the clinician can release theclosure trigger 512. When the clutch assembly 1640 has been moved tothis firing mode, the firing magnet 1611 is in communication with theHall effect sensor 1632 to indicate the position of the clutch assembly1640 to the microcontroller 520. See FIG. 11. The microcontroller 520may provide the clinician with an indication of the position of thedistal firing bar 1620 as it is advanced distally through the targettissue that is clamped between the end effector jaws. Once the distalfiring bar 1620 and, more specifically, the firing member or knifemember attached thereto has been advanced to a fully fired position, themicrocontroller 520, by means of sensor arrangements, detects theposition of a portion of the firing member assembly 1600 and may thenreverse the motor to retract the distal firing bar 1620 to its startingposition. This action may be automatic or the clinician may have todepress the firing trigger 532 during the retraction process. Once thedistal firing bar 1620 has been fully retracted to its startingposition, the microcontroller 520 may provide the clinician with anindication that the distal firing bar 1620 has been fully retracted andthe closure trigger 512 may be unlocked to enable the closure assembly1406 to be returned to the unactuated position which thereby moves thejaws to the open position.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the anvil assembly1130 includes an anvil body portion 1132 and an anvil mounting portion1134. The anvil mounting portion 1134 comprises a pair of anvil mountingwalls 1136 that are separated by a slot 1138 (FIG. 4). The anvilmounting walls 1136 are interconnected or bridged by an upstanding tabportion 1139. As discussed above, the end effector mounting assembly1230 is pivotally attached to the proximal end 1103 of the elongatechannel 1102 by a pair of laterally extending jaw attachment pins 1235that are rotatably received within jaw pivot holes 1104 that areprovided in the proximal end 1103 of the elongate channel 1102. The jawattachment pins 1235 define a fixed jaw pivot axis JA that issubstantially traverse to the shaft axis SA. See FIG. 4. Each of theanvil mounting walls 1136 has a mounting hole 1140 extendingtherethrough to enable the anvil mounting portion 1134 to be pivotallyjournaled on the jaw attachment pins 1235. Thus, in such arrangement,the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102 are independently pivotableabout the fixed jaw pivot axis JA. Such arrangement may permit the anvil1130 and elongate channel 1102 (the “jaws”) to be opened to positionsthat may be wider than those open positions that may be attained by thejaws of other end effector arrangements wherein only one of the jawsmoves relative to the other jaw.

Still referring to FIGS. 15A and 15B, the distal closure member 1430includes two inwardly extending jaw opening pins 1432 that are adaptedto extend through corresponding channel opening cam slots 1106 providedin the proximal end 1103 of the elongate channel 1102. Each jaw openingpin 1432 is configured to engage a corresponding anvil opening camsurface 1142 that is formed on each anvil mounting wall 1136. As can beseen in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the anvil opening cam surfaces 1142 areopposed or arranged in an opposite configuration as the correspondingchannel opening cam slots 1106. Stated another way, the channel openingcam slots 1106 and the anvil opening cam surfaces 1142 curve in oppositedirections from each other.

FIG. 15A illustrates the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102 (the“jaws”) in the fully closed position. As the distal closure member 1430is advanced distally, the distal end 1431 of the distal closure member1430 travels up closure cam surfaces 1137 formed on each of the anvilmounting walls 1136 as well as up closure cam surfaces 1108 formed onthe proximal end 1103 of the elongate channel 1102. As the distal end1431 of the distal closure member 1430 cammingly contacts the closurecam surfaces 1137, 1108, the anvil 1130 as well as the elongate channel1102 are both pivoted about the jaw pivot axis JA to the closed positionat which point the distal end 1431 of the distal closure member 1430contacts a ledge portion 1133 that is formed between the anvil mountingportion 1134 and the anvil body portion 1132 as well as a ledge 1145 onthe elongate channel. See FIG. 15A. When the closure member assembly1400 is locked in position, the distal closure member 1430 retains theanvil 1130 and elongate channel 1102 in that closed position. When theclinician desires to move the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102to the open position, the distal closure member 1430 is moved in theproximal direction PD. As the distal closure member 1430 is moved in theproximal direction PD, the jaw opening pins 1432 engage thecorresponding channel opening cam slots 1106 and the anvil opening camsurfaces 1142 and pivots the anvil 1130 and elongate channel about thefixed jaw axis JA to the open position shown in FIG. 15B. Such use ofpins of features on the distal closure member to effectuate movement ofboth jaws from a fully closed position to a fully open position may bereferred to herein as “positive jaw opening” features. Other positivejaw opening arrangements are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/742,925, entitled SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE JAWOPENING ARRANGEMENTS, which has been incorporated by reference in itsentirety herein.

FIGS. 16-21 Illustrate an alternative distal closure member 1430′ thatemploys alternative positive jaw opening features in the form of, forexample, movable jaw opening cams 1440 that are attached to the distalclosure member 1430′ in place of the jaw opening pins. At least one andpreferably two jaw opening cams 1440 are movably attached to the distalclosure member 1430′ by a corresponding stretchable coupler 1450. In theillustrated embodiment, the coupler 1450 comprises a cam or tensionspring. In the illustrated arrangement, the tension spring 1454comprises flat spring to save space. A proximal end of each tensionspring 1450 has a hook 1452 formed thereon that extends through anopening 1442 in the distal closure member 1430′. An end of each hook1452 may be seated in a corresponding slot or groove 1444 that is formedin the distal closure member 1430′ as shown in FIG. 16. A distal end1455 of each tension spring 1454 is attached to the corresponding jawopening cam 1440. The proximal end 1103 of the elongate channel 1102includes a pair of spring clearance slots 1106′ and channel opening camsurfaces 1107 that are configured to be engaged by the jaw opening cams1440. In alternative arrangements, the spring could include maximumextension features that only allow a predetermined amount of complianceand then assure jaw opening that is proportionate to the remainingclosure trigger travel and therefore closure shuttle motion. Asindicated above, each of the anvil mounting walls 1136 has an anvilopening cam surface 1142 formed thereon. As can be seen in FIG. 19, theanvil opening cam surfaces 1142 are opposed or arranged in an oppositeconfiguration as the corresponding channel opening cam surface 1107.Stated another way, the channel opening cam surface 1107 and the anvilopening cam surfaces 1142 are arcuate and curve in opposite directions.

FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate the anvil 1130 and elongate channel 1102 intheir respective fully opened positions. As can be seen in each of thoseFigures, the jaw opening cams 1440 are oriented between thecorresponding anvil opening cam surface 1142 and the channel opening camsurface 1107 and are in their proximal-most positions. When in the fullyopened positions, the jaw opening cams 1440 are located distal to thedistal end of the distal closure member 1430′. As can be seen in FIGS.19 and 20, the jaw opening cams 1440 may be wedge-shaped. In at leastone arrangement, the wedge geometry has a gradual cam surface on theproximal side to prevent biding between the jaws. When in that fullyopen position, the tension springs 1454 are in their starting positionwherein the tension springs 1454 are applying their smallest amount ofbiasing force to each of the jaw opening cams 1440. Upon commencement ofthe closing process, the distal closure member 1430′ is advanceddistally in the various manners described herein. As the distal closuremember 1430′ is advanced distally, the distal end 1431 contacts theclosure cam surfaces 1137 on the anvil mounting portion 1134 and closurecam surfaces 1108 that are formed on the proximal end 1103 of theelongate channel 1102 to pivot the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel1102 toward each other about the pivot jaw axis JA. As the anvil 1130and the elongate channel 1102 are pivoted toward each other, the jawopening cams 1440 that are riding on cam surfaces 1142 and 1104 aredriven in the distal direction. As the jaw opening cams 1440 are drivendistally, the tension springs 1454 are elongated and “loaded”.

FIGS. 18 and 19 depict the anvil 1130 and elongate channel 1102 in theirfully closed positions. When the clinician desires to return the anvil1130 and elongate channel 1102 to their fully open positions (FIGS. 20and 21), the distal closure member 1430′ is withdrawn in the proximaldirection which permits the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102 topivot away from each other about the pivot jaw axis JA. Because thetension springs 1454 are elongated and loaded, they draw each of the jawopening cams 1440 in the proximal direction. As the jaw opening cams1440 move in the proximal direction PD between the cam surfaces 1142 and1107, the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102 are positively movedto the fully opened position and retained therein by the jaw openingcams 1440. The more that the distal closure member is moved proximally,the more the jaws are urged away from each other. Such compliantpositive jaw opening arrangements may assure direct one-to-one finalpull open to provide more opening force if stuck.

FIGS. 22-25 illustrate an alternative distal closure member 1430″ thatemploys jaw opening tabs as well as at least one jaw opening spring 1460to move the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102′ into theirrespective fully opened positions. As can be seen in FIGS. 24 and 25,the distal closure member 1430″ is similar to distal closure member 1430as described above, except that distal closure member 1430″ additionallyincludes an anvil open tab 1435 and a channel open tab 1437. As shown inFIG. 24, when the distal closure member 1430″ has been moved to itsproximal most position corresponding to the fully opened position, theanvil open tab 1435 is in contact with the tab 1139 on the anvilmounting portion 1134 and the channel opening tab is in contact with achannel tab 1109 protruding from the underside of the proximal endportion 1103 of the elongate channel 1102′.

The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 22, 24 and 25 also employs a positivejaw opening member which may comprise a jaw opening spring 1460. As canbe seen in FIG. 23, in the illustrated arrangement, the jaw openingspring 1460 includes an anvil opening leg 1462 and a channel opening leg1464 that are attached by a bridge portion 1463. The spring 1460 may bejournaled on the jaw attachment pins 1235 as shown in FIGS. 22, 24 and25 such that the anvil opening leg 1462 bears on a bottom surface of theanvil mounting portion 1134 and the channel opening leg 1464 bears on abottom surface of the proximal end 1103 of the elongate channel 1102′.Thus, the jaw opening spring 1460 serves to apply biasing forces to theanvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102′ to pivot them away from eachother to open positions. FIG. 25 illustrates the anvil 1130 and theelongate channel 1102′ in the fully closed position. As can be seen inFIG. 25, the jaw opening spring 1460 is in its fully compressed state.To open the anvil and channel 1102′, the distal closure member 1430″ ismoved in the proximal direction PD in the various manners disclosedherein. As the distal closure member 1430″ moves proximally, the jawopening spring 1460 positively biases the anvil 1130 and the elongatechannel 1102′ away from each other about the pivot axis JA to the fullyopen position wherein the anvil opening tab 1435 engages the tab 1139 onthe anvil mounting portion 1134 and the channel opening tab 1437 engagesthe channel tab 1109. See FIG. 24. In at least one arrangement, the jawopening spring is mounted proximal to the firing member parking area(i.e., the area where the firing member resides when in the startingposition).

FIGS. 26-29 illustrate an alternative distal closure member 1470 thatemploys slot arrangements in the elongate channel and closure memberthat are configured to move an anvil 1130″ between a fully open positionand a fully closed position. In the illustrated arrangement, the distalclosure member 1470 is similar to distal closure member 1430 asdescribed above, except for the differences discussed below. In thisarrangement, however, only the anvil 1130″ moves relative to theelongate channel 1102″. As can be seen in FIGS. 26-29, the anvilmounting portion 1134 of the anvil 1130″ includes two outwardlyextending anvil pins 1150 that extend through corresponding channelslots 1472 provided in the proximal end 1103 of the elongate channel1102″. Each anvil pin 1150 also extends into corresponding closure slots1474 in the distal closure member 1470. In the illustrated arrangement,each of the channel slots 1472 extends along a vertical axis VA. Theanvil pins 1150 define a pivot axis PA about which the anvil 1130″ maypivot. Because the anvil pins 1150 are constrained to only move withinthe vertically extending channel slots 1472, the pivot axis PA isconstrained to only move along the vertical axis VA. Each closure slot1474 has a proximal portion 1476 and a distal portion 1478. The proximalportion 1476 lies along a first horizontal axis HA₁ and the distalportion 1478 lies along a second horizontal axis HA₂ that is offset fromthe first horizontal axis HA₁. See FIG. 26. Vertical axis VA istransverse to the first and second horizontal axes HA₁ and HA₂.

FIG. 26 illustrates the positions of the anvil 1130″ and the elongatechannel 1102″ when in the fully open position. As can be seen in FIG.26, when in that position, the anvil pins 1150 are located at the topend of the channel slot 1472 (“first vertical positions”) as well as inthe distal portion 1478 of the closure slots 1474. FIG. 27 illustratesthe positions of the anvil 1130″ and the elongate channel 1102″ afterthe closure process has been commenced. As can be seen in FIG. 27, thedistal closure member 1470 has begun to move distally so that the anvilpins 1150 are just about to enter the proximal portion 1476 of theclosure slots and the pins have begun to move downward in the channelslots 1472. In FIG. 28, the distal closure member 1470 has moveddistally to a point wherein the anvil pins 1150 are at the bottom endsof the channel slots 1472 and the anvil pins 1150 have now entered theproximal portions 1476 of the closure slots 1474. Thus the anvilmounting portion 1134 has moved downward toward the elongate channel1102″. FIG. 29 illustrates the anvil 1130″ and the elongate channelanvil 1102″ in their fully closed positions. As can be seen in FIG. 29,the anvil pins 1150 are retained in the bottom ends of the channel slots1472 (“second vertical positions”) and are also received within theproximal portions 1476 of the closure slots 1474. The anvil 1130″ andelongate channel 1102″ are retained in that fully closed position whilethe distal closure member 1470 is retained in that position. As can beseen in FIG. 29, such arrangement facilitates the vertical travel of theanvil mounting portion 1134 relative to the channel 1102″ therebyincreasing the distance between the underside of the anvil and thecartridge deck when in the fully opened position. Such redundant linkagearrangement may allow for the adjustment of the proximal distancebetween the anvil and the cartridge deck adjacent the tissue stops.Another cartridge embodiment may include a metallic camming terminationfeature proximal to the sled start location. Such metallic feature maysupport or hold the sled in the “ready-to-use” position while preventingthe collapse of the tail.

FIGS. 30-32 illustrate one form of a firing member 1760 that may beemployed with the interchangeable tool assembly 1000. In one exemplaryform, the firing member 1760 comprises a body portion 1762 that includesa proximally extending connector member 1763 that is configured to bereceived in a correspondingly shaped connector opening 1624 (FIG. 4) inthe distal end of the distal firing bar 1620. The connector 1763 may beretained within the connector opening 1624 by friction and/or welding orsuitable adhesive, etc. In use, the body portion 1762 protrudes throughan elongate slot 1160 in the elongate channel 1102. A laterallyextending foot tab 1764 extends from each lateral side of the bodyportion 1762. Each foot tab 1764 includes a proximal end 1765 that has athickness PE_(f) and a distal end 1767 that has a thickness DE_(f). Suchconfiguration also defines an upper foot surface 1768 and a lower footsurface 1769. In the illustrated reference the upper foot surface 1768and the lower foot surface 1769 angle away from each other. In FIG. 31,the upper foot surface 1768 is parallel to the upper axis U_(A) and thelower foot surface 1769 is parallel to lower axis U_(L) with an angleA_(F) therebetween. Stated another way, the distal thickness DE_(f)>theproximal thickness PE_(f). Thus, each of the foot tabs 1764 taper inthickness from their respective distal end 1767 to their proximal end1765 with the proximal end being thinner.

Still referring primarily to FIG. 31, the illustrated firing member 1760also includes a pair of laterally extending top tabs 1770. Each top tab1770 includes a proximal end 1772 that has a thickness PE_(T) and adistal end 1774 that has a thickness DE_(T). Such configuration alsodefines a top surface 1776 and a bottom surface 1778. In the illustratedreference the top surface 1776 and the bottom surface 1778 angle awayfrom each other. In FIG. 31, the top surface 1776 is parallel to anupper axis T_(A) and the bottom surface 1778 is parallel to a bottomaxis B_(L) with an angle A_(T) therebetween. Stated another way, adistal thickness DE_(T) of each top tab 1770 is greater than proximalthickness PE_(T) thereof. Thus, each of the top tabs 1770 taper inthickness from their respective distal end 1774 to their proximal end1772 with the proximal end 1772 being thinner. In the illustratedarrangement angle A_(F) may be approximately equal to angle A_(T). Inaddition, the top surface 1776 of each of the top tabs 1770 may be adistance H_(F) from the lower foot surface 1769 of each correspondingfoot tab 1764 between the distal ends 1774, 1765, respectively and alsobe a distance H_(R) from each other at their respective proximal ends1772, 1767. In the illustrated arrangement, H_(F)>H_(R). Thus, the topsurface 1776 of each top tab 1770 angles away from the shaft axis SA andeach lower foot surface 1769 of each foot tab 1764 angles away from theshaft axis SA. The illustrated firing member 1760 further includeslaterally protruding central lock lugs 1780 which will be discussed infurther detail below. The body portion 1762 of the firing member 1760further includes a tissue cutting edge or feature 1766 that is disposedbetween a distally protruding bottom portion 1771 and a distallyprotruding top nose portion 1773.

In the illustrated example, the cartridge body 1111 operably supportstherein a plurality of staple drivers that are aligned in rows on eachside of a centrally disposed slot 1114. FIGS. 33A-33C illustrate oneexample of a staple driver 1170 that may be employed to support stapleson one side of a surgical staple cartridge. The drivers located on theopposite side of the centrally disposed slot 1114 may comprise mirrorimages of drivers 1170. Other staple driver configurations may also beeffectively employed as well. As can be seen in FIGS. 33A-33C, one formof a staple driver 1700 comprises a staple driver body 1172. The driverbody 1172 includes a first or innermost staple support portion 1174 thatis configured to support a staple (not shown) thereon. A second orcentral staple support portion 1176 is configured to support anotherstaple (not shown) thereon and a third support portion 1870 that isconfigured to support a third staple (not shown) thereon. The firststaple support portion 1174, the second staple support portion 1176 andthe third staple support portion 1178 are all coupled together by aconnector portion 1180. In at least one arrangement, the connectorportion 1180 is formed with a centrally disposed opening or aperture1182 that is configured to slidably receive a corresponding first driverguide (not shown) that is formed in the cartridge body. The connectorportion 1180 includes a first cam portion 1184 that has a first cammingsurface or ramp 1186 formed thereon. The connector portion 1180 alsoincludes a second cam portion 1188 that has a second a second cammingsurface 1190 formed thereon. The camming surfaces 1186, 1190 have thesame slope or angle or they may have different slopes/angles. In atleast one embodiment, each staple driver 1170 is integrally formed fromor molded from, for example, Ultem®, with no fill. However, othermaterials such as, for example, Ultem® with a glass or mineral fill orNylon or Nylon with a glass file could be used. In other arrangements,the various portions of the staple drivers 1170 may be separatelyfabricated from other materials and be attached together by adhesive,solder, etc. Further details concerning the staple drivers 1170 as wellas other driver embodiments that may be effectively employed with thevarious embodiments disclosed herein may be found in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/843,243, filed Sep. 2, 2015, entitled SURGICALSTAPLE CONFIGURATIONS WITH CAMMING SURFACES LOCATED BETWEEN PORTIONSSUPPORTING SURGICAL STAPLES, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein.

Turning next to FIGS. 33, 36 and 37, the firing member 1760 isconfigured to operably interface with a sled assembly 1120 that isoperably supported within the body 1111 of the surgical staple cartridge1110. The sled assembly 1120 is slidably displaceable within thesurgical staple cartridge body 1111 from a proximal starting positionadjacent the proximal end 1112 of the cartridge body 1111 to an endingposition adjacent the distal end 1113 of the cartridge body 1111. SeeFIG. 4. The centrally disposed slot 1114 enables the firing member 1760to pass therethrough and cut the tissue that is clamped between theanvil 1130 and the staple cartridge 1110. The drivers 1170 areassociated with corresponding pockets 1116 that open through the upperdeck surface 1115 of the cartridge body 1111. The sled assembly 1120includes a plurality of sloped or wedge-shaped cams 1122 wherein eachcam 1122 corresponds to a particular camming surface 1186, 1190 on thecorresponding drivers 1170 located on each side of the slot 1114. Whenthe firing member 1760 is fired or driven distally, the firing member1760 drives the sled assembly 1120 distally as well. As the firingmember 1760 moves distally through the cartridge 1110, the tissuecutting feature 1766 cuts the tissue that is clamped between the anvilassembly 1130 and the cartridge 1110 and the sled assembly 1120 drivesthe drivers 1170 upwardly in the cartridge which drive the correspondingstaples or fasteners into forming contact with the anvil assembly 1130.In the illustrated example, the body portion 1762 of the firing member1760 is configured to engage with the distal end of the sled assembly1120. In particular, in at least one example, as shown in FIG. 33, thedistal end of the body portion 1762 is oriented to simply contact theproximal end of the center portion of the sled 1120. In other firingmember arrangements, the firing member body 1762 may be uniquely shapedor configured to operably mesh, mate or operably interface with thecorresponding end portion of the sled assembly contained within acorresponding cartridge assembly so that should the user unwittinglyload the wrong cartridge into the elongate channel and thereafterattempt to fire the cartridge, the firing member and sled would notproperly interface to enable the distal advancement thereof.

In those embodiments wherein the firing member includes a tissue cuttingsurface, it may be desirable for the elongate shaft assembly to beconfigured in such a way so as to prevent the inadvertent advancement ofthe firing member unless an unspent staple cartridge is properlysupported in the elongate channel 1102 of the surgical end effector1100. If, for example, no staple cartridge is present at all and thefiring member is distally advanced through the end effector, the tissuewould be severed, but not stapled. Similarly, if a spent staplecartridge (i.e., a staple cartridge wherein at least some of the stapleshave already been fired therefrom) is present in the end effector andthe firing member is advanced, the tissue would be severed, but may notbe completely stapled, if at all. It will be appreciated that suchoccurrences could lead to undesirable catastrophic results during thesurgical procedure. U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,649 entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENT HAVING A SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT, U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,352entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A SINGLE LOCKOUT MECHANISMFOR PREVENTION OF FIRING, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,380,695 entitled SURGICALSTAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A SINGLE LOCKOUT MECHANISM FOR PREVENTION OFFIRING, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,933, entitledSURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTINGFIRING SYSTEM ACTUATION WHEN A CARTRIDGE IS SPENT OR MISSING eachdisclose various firing member lockout arrangements. Each of thosereferences is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

An “unfired”, “unspent”, “fresh” or “new” cartridge 1110 means hereinthat the cartridge 1110 has all of its fasteners in their“ready-to-be-fired positions”. When in that position, the sled assembly1120 is located in its starting position. The new cartridge 1110 isseated within the elongate channel 1102 and may be retained therein bysnap features on the cartridge body that are configured to retaininglyengage corresponding portions of the elongate channel 1102. FIG. 36illustrates a portion of the surgical end effector 1100 with a new orunfired surgical staple cartridge 1110 seated therein. As can be seen inFIG. 36, the sled assembly 1120 is in the starting position. To preventthe firing system from being activated and, more precisely, to preventthe firing member 1760 from being distally driven through the endeffector 1110 unless an unfired or new surgical staple cartridge hasbeen properly seated within the elongate channel 1102, the illustratedinterchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 employs a firing memberlockout system generally designated as 1790.

Referring now to FIGS. 33-37, in one form, the firing member lockoutsystem 1790 includes movable lock member 1792 that is configured toretainingly engage the firing member 1760 when an unspent surgicalstaple cartridge 1110 is not properly seated within the elongate channel1102. The lock member 1792 comprises a pair of lateral spring arms 1793that are interconnected by a central mount tab feature 1794. The centralmount tab feature 1794 has a mounting hook 1795 formed therein that isconfigured to be hooked over a retaining pin 1238 in the anvil mountingassembly 1230 as can be seen in FIGS. 35-37. When installed, the mounttab 1794 is configured to bias the lock member 1792 upward. In addition,the lock member 1792 includes two lateral anvil spring arms 1796 thatangle upward to engage the bottom surface of a corresponding anvilmounting wall 1136 on the anvil mounting portion 1134 to bias the lockmember 1792 downward when the anvil 1130 is closed. A firing memberalignment tab 1797 extends upward from each of the lateral spring arms1793 to maintain alignment between the firing member 1760 and the lockmember 1792. As can be most particularly seen in FIG. 33, the distalportion of each lateral spring arm 1793 includes a laterally extendingforward arm 1798 that terminates in a sled tab 1799 that corresponds toa sled boss 1124 that is formed on the outermost wedge-shaped cams 1122on the sled 1120. Each of the lateral spring arms 1793 includes a locknotch 1850 therein that is configured to lockingly engage acorresponding one of the central lock lugs 1780 therein. Those ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that different numbers andarrangements of sled bosses may be employed in the sleds of differentstaple cartridge arrangements. The number of, and arrangement of, thesled boss(es) may be configured to only interact with corresponding sledtabs of the lock member of the proper instrument with which the staplecartridge is intended to be used. Thus, the sled bosses may function asa “key” to only actuate the lock member of the proper device. Sucharrangement may therefore prevent the user from actuating the devicewhen the wrong surgical staple cartridge has been loaded into theelongate channel.

FIG. 35 illustrates the end effector 1100 with the anvil 1130 and theelongate channel 1102 in their fully opened position without a surgicalstaple cartridge installed therein. As can be seen in FIG. 35, the anvilspring arms 1796 are in contact with the underside of the mounting walls1136, but they are not “loaded”. Such position enables the surgicalstaple cartridge 1110 to be seated into the elongate channel 1102. Ifone were to close the anvil 1130 when in that position, the anvil springarms 1796 will bias the spring arms 1793 downwardly to cause the centrallugs 1780 to be lockingly received within the corresponding lock notch1850 in the spring arm 1793. When in that position, the firing member1760 cannot be distally advanced. FIG. 36 illustrates a fresh surgicalstaple cartridge 1110 properly seated within the elongate channel 1102when the anvil 1130 is in the fully closed position. As can be seen inFIG. 36, the sled 1120 is in its starting position. When in thatposition, the sled bosses 1124 engage the sled tabs 1799 and bias thespring arms 1793 upward to positions wherein the lock notches 1850 donot engage the central tabs 1780. Thus, the firing member 1760 is freeto be distally advanced. FIG. 37 illustrates the position of the firingmember 1760 after it has been advanced distally from its startingposition. As can be seen in FIG. 37, the firing member 1760 is distal tothe lock spring and out of engagement therewith. The anvil spring arms1796 have biased the lock member downwardly to an unlocked position.

FIGS. 38 and 39 illustrate the position of the firing member 1760 andthe lock member 1792 after the firing member 1760 has been initiallyretracted in the proximal direction. In the illustrated arrangement,each of the central lock lugs 1780 includes a chamfered proximal endportion 1782. See FIGS. 30 and 31. As the firing member 1760 isretracted to the position shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, the chamferedproximal ends 1782 of the central lock lugs 1780 contact thecorresponding forward arms 1798 of the lock member 1792 and bias thespring arms laterally outwardly (arrow L in FIG. 39). FIGS. 40 and 41illustrate the position of the firing member 1760 and the lock member1792 after the firing member 1760 has been fully retracted back into itsstarting position. When in that position, each of the central lock lugs1780 is lockingly received within the lock notches 1850 in thecorresponding spring arm 1793. When in that position, the firing member1760 cannot be distally advanced.

FIG. 42 illustrates an alternative lock member 1792′. In thisembodiment, the mount tab 1794 biases the lock member 1792′ downwardlywithout the use of anvil spring arms. Thus, the central lock lugs 1780remain in locking engagement with the spring arms 1793 during opening ofthe anvil 1130 and elongate jaw 1102 and loading of the surgical staplecartridge 1110 therein.

As discussed above, the cartridge body 1111 has a plurality of anvilpockets 1116 that are serially arranged in lines on both sides of thecentral slot 1114. Housed within these pockets 1116 are staple driversthat operably support one or more surgical staples or fasteners thereon.When the target tissue is clamped between the anvil 1130 and the staplecartridge deck surface 1115, the target tissue must be so positioned sothat the tissue that is severed is stapled on each side of the cut line.To avoid the target tissue from being positioned proximal of theproximal most staples or fasteners, the anvil typically containsdownwardly extending walls commonly referred to as “tissue stops” whichserve to block the target tissue from getting too far proximal betweenthe anvil and cartridge. As the anvil is closed toward the cartridge,the tissue stops extend downward past the cartridge deck surface toprevent the tissue from being positioned too far proximal between theanvil and cartridge. In at least one of the end effector embodimentsdescribed herein, the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102 both canmove about the pivot jaw axis JA. Such arrangement may permit the anvil1130 and the elongate channel 1102 to be opened further than other endeffector arrangements wherein only one of the anvil or elongate channelcan move or pivot. Stated another way, the distance between theundersurface of the anvil body 1132 and the cartridge deck surface 1115of a staple cartridge 1110 that is seated in the elongate channel 1102of the end effector 1110 described herein when both the anvil 1130 andelongate channel 1102 are in their respective fully open positions isgenerally larger than the distance between the underside of the anviland the deck surface of a cartridge that is seated in an elongatechannel of an end effector wherein only one of the anvil and channelmove relative to the other. Thus, at least one form of the end effector1100 is configured to employ a staple cartridge arrangement with atleast one “active” tissue stop or “expandable” tissue stop. In theillustrated arrangement, two active tissue stops generally designated as1250 are employed.

Turning now to FIGS. 45, 47 and 48, as discussed above, the staplecartridge body 1111 includes a plurality of staple pockets 1116 locatedon each side of the elongate slot 1114 that is configured to accommodatethe firing member 1760 as it is distally advanced through the cartridge.Depending upon the configuration number and arrangement of the staplepockets 1116, one or more staple driver configurations may be operablysupported therein that each supports one or more surgical staplesthereon. Some pockets located at the proximal end of the cartridge bodymay not contain drivers and staples. For example, in the illustratedarrangement, the staple pockets 1116 contain drivers (not shown) andstaples (not shown). The proximal most pockets that support a driver anda staple are labeled 1116P. Although additional “unused” pockets(labeled 1117), none of those pockets contain drivers and staples. Inthe illustrated arrangement, all of the staple pockets 1116 on bothsides of the elongate slot 1114 that are to the proximal most pockets1116P contain drivers and surgical staples. The active tissue stops 1250are therefore configured to prevent tissue from being clamped betweenthe anvil 1130 and the cartridge 1110 in a position that is proximal tothe proximal staple pockets 1116P to prevent the tissue from being cutwithout first being stapled.

In one arrangement, the surgical staple cartridge 1110 alone and/or incombination with the elongate channel 1102 may be referred to herein asthe “first jaw” and the anvil 1130 may be referred to as the “secondjaw”. The proximal end 1112 of the staple cartridge 1110 may be referredto as the “first proximal end” or the proximal end of the first jaw. Thedeck surface 1115 may be referred to as the ‘first jaw surface“. In theillustrated arrangement, the anvil body 1132 includes a staple formingundersurface 1135 that faces the cartridge deck and serves to form thestaples as they are driven into contact therewith. The staple formingundersurface 1135 (FIG. 3) may also be referred to herein as the “secondjaw surface”.

In the illustrated arrangement, the active tissue stops 1250 areoperably attached to the cartridge body 1111. However, otherarrangements are contemplated wherein the active tissue stops areattached to portions of the elongate channel 1102.

Turning to FIG. 45, in at least one arrangement, two active orexpandable tissue stops 1250 are employed—one tissue stop on each sideof the elongate slot 1114. As can be seen in FIG. 47, an active tissuestop 1250 comprises a bifurcated lower tissue stop portion 1260 thatcomprises two cam walls 1262 that are separated by a space 1264 and areinterconnected by a connector 1265. Movably supported within the space1264 is an upper tissue stop portion 1270. As can be seen in FIG. 45, astop bridge 1266 is provided between the walls 1260 at the upper portionof their distal ends. The stop bridge 1266 cooperates with a stop tab1272 formed on the upper tissue stop portion 1270 to prevent the uppertissue stop portion 1270 from extending completely out of the space1264. Mounting holes 1267 are provided through the walls 1260 to enablethe lower tissue stop portion 1260 to be pivotally journaled on acorresponding stop pin 1118 that protrudes laterally out of the sides1113 of the cartridge body 1111. As can also be seen in FIG. 45, each ofthe upper stops 1270 includes a spring mounting hole 1274 that isconfigured to receive a leg portion 1282 of a biasing member or stopspring 1280 therein. See FIG. 46.

The upper tissue stop portion 1270 is slidably received within the space1264 of the corresponding lower tissue stop portion 1260 to create theactive or expandable tissue stop 1250. The upper and lower tissue stopportions 1260, 1270, along with the corresponding biasing member or stopspring 1280, are pivotally journaled on the corresponding stop pin 1118.Each active tissue stop assembly 1250 is free to pivot about a tissuestop axis TSA that is defined by the stop pins 1118. As can be seen inFIG. 45, the tissue stop axis TSA is transverse to the elongate slot1114 in the cartridge body 1111. A second leg 1284 of the stop spring1280 bears upon a corresponding ledge or portion 1119 of the cartridgebody 1111 such that when journaled on the stop pin 1118, the stop spring1280 serve to bias the upper tissue stop portion 1270 upward within thespace 1264 until the stop tab 1272 contains the stop bridge 1266. Atthat point, the biasing member or stop spring 1280 serves to bias theentire active tissue stop assembly 1250 upward about the tissue stopaxis TSA until the upper tissue stop portion 1270 contacts acorresponding stop ledge 1121 formed on the cartridge body 1111.

Thus, in the illustrated arrangement, each of the active tissue stopassemblies 1250 are attached to a corresponding lateral side 1113 of thecartridge body 1110. As can be seen in FIG. 45, each side wall 1126 ofthe elongate channel 1102 has a tissue stop notch 1128 formed therein toreceive an active tissue stop assembly 1250 therein when the jaws 1130,1110 are in their fully closed positions. FIG. 49 illustrates the anvil1130 and elongate channel 1102 and cartridge 1110 in their “fullyclosed” positions. The orientations of the active tissue stop assemblies1250 when the anvil 1130 and elongate channel 1102 or surgical cartridge1110 are in their fully closed positions may be referred to as their“fully compressed” orientations. In certain embodiments the anvilassembly 1130 may also have fixed tissue stops 1144 formed thereon whichare proximal to the active tissue stop assemblies 1250. See FIGS. 43 and44. FIGS. 47 and 50 illustrate the orientation of an active tissue stopassembly 1250 when the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102 are intheir respective fully opened positions. The orientations of the activetissue stop assemblies 1250 when the anvil 1130 and elongate channel1102 or surgical cartridge 1110 are in their fully open positions may bereferred to as their “fully deployed” or “fully expanded” orientations.When in their fully deployed position, the active tissue stops 1250serve to prevent tissue from significantly advancing proximally past theproximal most staple pockets 1116P. FIG. 49 illustrates the anvil 1130and elongate channel 1102 clamping tissue therebetween in theirrespective fully closed positions. Prior to being installed within theelongate channel 1102, the tissue stop assemblies may be retained in thecollapsed orientation shown in FIG. 49 by a removably staple cover thatis removably attached to the cartridge deck. Once the cartridge isinstalled in the elongate channel, the staple cover maybe removed fromthe cartridge deck.

FIGS. 51-53 illustrate another tissue stop arrangement that comprisescooperating tissue stops on the anvil as well as the cartridge. Forexample, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 51-53, a pair of upstandingcartridge tissue stops 1290 that extend upward from the cartridge decksurface 1115. When the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102 are intheir fully closed positions, the upper ends 1292 of the cartridgetissue stops 1290 extend into holes or cavities 1293 provided in theanvil body 1132. The upper ends 1292 of the cartridge tissue stops 1290are angled so that when the anvil 1130 and elongate channel 1102 arefully closed, the upper ends 1292 do not protrude beyond the outersurface of the anvil body 1132. See FIG. 53. In addition, the anvil 1130includes downwardly extending distal tissue stops 1296 that do notextend below the cartridge deck surface 1115 when the anvil 1130 and theelongate channel 1102 are in their fully closed positions and a pair ofproximal tissue stops 1298 that extend downwardly below the deck surface1115 of the cartridge 1110 when the anvil 1130 and elongate channel 1102are in their fully closed position. See FIG. 53. In an alternativearrangement, an elastic band may be placed around the exterior of thejaws such that the distal edge of the band is at the desired locationfor the tissue stops. As the jaws are opened, the band stretches butserves as a tissue stop. The band can rest in recesses in the anvil andelongate channel that circumscribe the anvil/channel so that the endeffector can pass through standard trocar arrangements.

Many of the surgical instrument systems described herein are motivatedby an electric motor; however, the surgical instrument systems describedherein can be motivated in any suitable manner. In various instances,the surgical instrument systems described herein can be motivated by amanually-operated trigger, for example. In certain instances, the motorsdisclosed herein may comprise a portion or portions of a roboticallycontrolled system. Moreover, any of the end effectors and/or toolassemblies disclosed herein can be utilized with a robotic surgicalinstrument system. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/118,241, entitledSURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENTARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0298719,for example, discloses several examples of a robotic surgical instrumentsystem in greater detail.

The surgical instrument systems described herein have been described inconnection with the deployment and deformation of staples; however, theembodiments described herein are not so limited. Various embodiments areenvisioned which deploy fasteners other than staples, such as clamps ortacks, for example. Moreover, various embodiments are envisioned whichutilize any suitable means for sealing tissue. For instance, an endeffector in accordance with various embodiments can comprise electrodesconfigured to heat and seal the tissue. Also, for instance, an endeffector in accordance with certain embodiments can apply vibrationalenergy to seal the tissue.

EXAMPLES Example 1

A surgical tool assembly for use with a control system that includes aclosure actuator that is configured to move a first axial closuredistance upon actuation thereof. The control system further includes afiring actuator. The surgical tool assembly comprises a shaft assemblythat is configured to releasably interface with the control system. Thetool assembly further comprises a surgical end effector that comprisesfirst and second jaws that operably interface with each other to movebetween a fully open position and a fully closed position relative toeach other. The surgical end effector is operably coupled to the shaftassembly for selective articulation relative thereto. A firing memberassembly operably interfaces with the firing actuator such thatoperation of the firing actuator advances the firing member assemblydistally. An articulation member interfaces with the surgical endeffector and is selectively engageable with the firing member assemblyin an engaged configuration wherein movement of the firing memberassembly causes the articulation member to articulate the surgical endeffector relative to the shaft assembly and a disengaged configurationwherein the firing member assembly is movable without moving thearticulation member. A closure assembly operably interfaces with atleast one of the first and second jaws and is configured to move the atleast one of the first and second jaws from the fully open to the fullyclosed position. A clutch assembly operably interfaces with the closureactuator and the closure assembly such that when the closure actuator isaxially advanced through the first axial closure distance, the clutchassembly causes the firing member assembly and the articulation memberto move from the engaged position to the disengaged position and theclosure assembly is axially moved a through a second axial closuredistance that is less than the first axial closure distance to therebycause the closure assembly to move the at least one of the first andsecond jaws from the fully open position to the fully closed position.

Example 2

The surgical tool assembly of Example 1, wherein the clutch assemblycomprises a rotary lock assembly that operably interfaces with thearticulation member, the firing member assembly and the closureassembly. The rotary lock assembly is rotatable between the engagedconfiguration and the disengaged configuration such that movement of theclosure actuator through the first axial closure distance causes aportion of the closure assembly to rotate the rotary lock assembly fromthe engaged configuration to the disengaged configuration.

Example 3

The surgical tool assembly of Example 2, wherein the portion of theclosure assembly comprises a proximal closure member that is configuredto releasably interface with the closure actuator for axial movementtherewith through the first axial closure distance and wherein theclutch assembly comprises a closure stroke reduction assembly thatoperably interfaces with the proximal closure member such that when theproximal closure member moves the first axial closure distance, theclosure stroke reduction assembly causes a distal portion of the closureassembly to axially move the second axial closure distance to therebymove the at least one of the first and second jaws from the fully openposition to the fully closed position.

Example 4

The surgical tool assembly of Example 3, wherein the clutch assemblyfurther comprises a cam assembly that operably interfaces with theproximal closure member and the rotary lock assembly such that when theproximal closure member is moved from a starting position correspondingto the fully open position distally through the first axial closuredistance to an ending position corresponding to the fully closedposition, the cam assembly rotates the rotary lock assembly from theengaged position to the disengaged position and when the proximalclosure member is moved in a proximal direction from the ending positionto the starting position, the cam assembly rotates the rotary lockassembly to the engaged position.

Example 5

The surgical tool assembly of Examples 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the controlsystem comprises a handle and a closure trigger assembly that isoperably supported on the handle and is selectively movable between anunactuated position and a fully actuated position. The closure triggeroperably interfaces with the closure actuator such that movement of theclosure trigger to the fully actuated position causes the closureactuator to move the articulation member from the engaged to thedisengaged configuration.

Example 6

The surgical tool assembly of Example 5 further comprising a motor thatoperably interfaces with the firing actuator such that operation of themotor in a first rotary direction causes the firing actuator to move thefiring member assembly distally and when the motor is moved in a secondrotary direction, the firing actuator moves the firing member assemblyproximally. A firing trigger assembly is operably supported on thehandle and is configured to selectively rotate the motor in the firstand second rotary directions.

Example 7

The surgical tool assembly of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein thefirst and second jaws are mounted relative to each other for selectivepivotal travel about a fixed jaw axis.

Example 8

The surgical tool assembly of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, whereinthe first jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configured toremovably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein thesecond jaw comprises an anvil.

Example 9

The surgical tool assembly of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, whereinthe firing member assembly comprises a proximal firing member. A distalfiring member slidably interfaces with the proximal firing member. Anend effector firing member is operably coupled to the distal firingmember and is configured to sever tissue and fire staples out of asurgical staple cartridge that is operably supported in the elongatechannel when the firing member assembly is moved distally apredetermined firing distance.

Example 10

A surgical instrument, comprising a control unit that comprises a firingdrive system that is configured to generate firing and retractionmotions and a closure drive system that is configured to move a closureactuator a first axial closure distance upon actuation thereof. Thesurgical instrument further comprises an interchangeable surgical toolassembly that comprises a shaft assembly that operably interfaces withthe control unit. The surgical instrument further comprises a surgicalend effector that comprises first and second jaws that operablyinterfaces with each other to move between a fully open position and afully closed position relative to each other. The surgical end effectoris operably coupled to the shaft assembly for selective articulationrelative thereto. A firing member assembly operably interfaces with thefiring drive system, wherein operation of the firing system advances thefiring member assembly distally. An articulation member interfaces withthe surgical end effector and is selectively engageable with the firingmember assembly in an engaged configuration wherein movement of thefiring member assembly causes the articulation member to articulate thesurgical end effector relative to the shaft assembly and a disengagedconfiguration wherein the firing member assembly is movable withoutmoving the articulation member. The surgical instrument furthercomprises a closure assembly that comprises a proximal closure assemblythat operably interfaces with the closure actuator. A distal closureportion operably interfaces with the proximal closure assembly such thatwhen the proximal closure assembly is axially advanced through the firstaxial closure distance, the distal closure portion is axially advanced asecond axial closure distance that is less than the first axial closuredistance and moves the at least one of the first and second jaws fromthe fully open to the fully closed position. A clutch assembly operablyinterfaces with the firing member assembly, the articulation member andthe proximal closure assembly such that when the proximal closureassembly is axially advanced the first axial closure distance, theclutch assembly causes the firing member assembly and the articulationmember to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

Example 11

The surgical instrument of Example 10, wherein movement of the proximalclosure assembly the first axial closure distance causes the clutchassembly to rotatably move the articulation member and the firing memberto the disengaged configuration.

Example 12

The surgical instrument of Examples 10 or 11, wherein the clutchassembly comprises a rotary lock assembly that operably interfaces withthe articulation member and the firing member assembly and is rotatablebetween the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration. Theclutch assembly further comprises a cam assembly that operablyinterfaces with the proximal closure assembly and the rotary lockassembly such that when the proximal closure assembly is moved from astarting position corresponding to the fully open position distallythrough the first axial closure distance to an ending positioncorresponding to the fully closed position, the cam assembly rotates therotary lock assembly from the engaged configuration to the disengagedconfiguration and when the proximal closure assembly is moved in aproximal direction from the ending position to the starting position,the cam assembly rotates the rotary lock assembly to the engagedconfiguration.

Example 13

The surgical instrument of Examples 10, 11 or 12, wherein the controlunit comprises a handle and a closure trigger assembly that is operablysupported on the handle and is selectively movable between an unactuatedposition and a fully actuated position. The closure trigger assemblyfurther operably interfaces with the closure actuator such that movementof the closure trigger to the fully actuated position causes the closureactuator to move the articulation member from the engaged to thedisengaged configuration.

Example 14

The surgical instrument of Example 13, wherein the firing drive systemcomprises a motor and a firing actuator assembly that operablyinterfaces with the motor such that operation of the motor in a firstrotary direction causes the firing actuator assembly to move the firingmember toward the end effector and when the motor is moved in a secondrotary direction, the firing end effector moves the firing member awayfrom the end effector. The firing drive system further comprises afiring trigger assembly that is operably supported on the handle and isselectively movable between a first position wherein the motor isunactuated and a fully actuated position wherein the motor is operatedin the first rotary direction.

Example 15

The surgical instrument of Examples 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein thefirst and second jaws are mounted relative to each other for selectivepivotal travel about a fixed jaw axis.

Example 16

The surgical instrument of Examples 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15, wherein thefirst jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configured to removablysupport a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the second jawcomprises an anvil.

Example 17

The surgical instrument of Example 16, wherein the surgical end effectorcomprises an end effector firing member that is operably coupled to theend effector firing member. The end effector firing member is configuredto sever tissue and firing staples out of a surgical staple cartridgethat is operably supported in the elongate channel when the firingmember is moved toward the surgical end effector.

Example 18

A surgical tool assembly comprising a shaft assembly and a surgical endeffector that comprises first and second jaws that operably interfacewith each other to move between a fully open position and a fully closedposition relative to each other. The surgical end effector is operablycoupled to the shaft assembly for selective articulation relativethereto. A firing member assembly is configured to move distally inresponse to a firing motion applied thereto. An articulation systeminterfaces with the end effector and is selectively engageable with thefiring member assembly in an engaged configuration wherein actuation ofthe firing member assembly causes the articulation system to articulatethe end effector relative to the shaft assembly and a disengagedconfiguration wherein the firing member assembly is actuatable withoutactuating the articulation system. A closure system is configured toreceive an axial closure input including a first axial closure strokedistance and generate therefrom a second axial closure output includinga second axial closure stroke distance that is less than the first axialclosure stroke distance and is configured to apply the second axialclosure output to the at least one of the first and second jaws to movethe at least one of the first and second jaws from the fully open to thefully closed position. The surgical tool assembly further comprisesclutch means for automatically moving the articulation system and thefiring member assembly from the engaged to the disengaged configurationupon application of the axial closure input to the closure system.

Example 19

The surgical tool assembly of Example 18, wherein the first jawcomprises an elongate channel that is configured to removably support asurgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the second jaw comprisesan anvil.

Example 20

The surgical tool assembly of Example 19, wherein the surgical endeffector comprises an end effector firing member that is operablycoupled to the firing member assembly and the end effector firing memberis configured to sever tissue and fire staples out of a surgical staplecartridge that is operably supported in the elongate channel when theend effector firing member is moved distally therethrough.

Example 21

A surgical tool assembly, comprising a surgical end effector thatcomprises first and second jaws that operably interface with each otherto move between a fully open position and a fully closed positionrelative to each other upon application of closing and opening motionsthereto. A proximal closure member is configured to move through a firstclosure stroke distance upon application of a closure input motionthereto. A distal closure member operably interfaces with the surgicalend effector. The surgical tool assembly further comprises a closurestroke reduction assembly that comprises a closure reduction linkagethat operably interfaces with the proximal closure member and the distalclosure member such that when the proximal closure member moves throughthe first closure stroke distance, the closure reduction linkage causesthe distal closure member to axially move through a second closurestroke distance that is less than the first closure stroke distance tothereby move at least one of the first and second jaws from the fullyopen position to the fully closed position.

Example 22

The surgical tool assembly of Example 21, wherein the surgical endeffector is coupled to a shaft assembly comprising a shaft mountingportion that is configured for operable engagement with a source of theclosure input motion. A spine assembly is operably coupled to thesurgical end effector and the shaft mounting portion. The spine assemblymovably supports the proximal and distal closure members thereon.

Example 23

The surgical tool assembly of Example 22, wherein the closure reductionlinkage is operably coupled to a portion of the spine assembly and amounting member that is movably supported for axial travel relative tothe proximal closure member. The closure reduction linkage alsocommunicates with the proximal closure member such that movement of theproximal closure member through an entire first closure stroke distancemoves the closure reduction linkage from a collapsed configuration to anextended configuration. The mounting member is coupled to anintermediate closure member that is operably coupled to the distalclosure member.

Example 24

The surgical tool assembly of Example 23, wherein the proximal closuremember comprises a proximal closure tube that is axially supported on aportion of the spine assembly for selective axial travel thereon theentire first closure stroke distance. The closure reduction linkagecomprises a proximal closure link that is movably coupled to the portionof the spine assembly. A distal closure link is movably coupled to themounting member and is pivotally coupled to the proximal closure link byan actuator member that operably interfaces with the proximal closuretube.

Example 25

The surgical tool assembly Example 24, wherein the actuator membercomprises an actuator pin that is movably received within an actuatorcam slot in the proximal closure tube.

Example 26

The surgical tool assembly of Examples 22, 23, 24 or 25, wherein thesurgical end effector is coupled to the shaft assembly by anarticulation joint.

Example 27

The surgical tool assembly of Example 26, wherein the shaft assemblycomprises an articulation system that is configured to applyarticulation motions to the surgical end effector and a firing memberassembly that is configured to axially advance a firing member throughthe surgical end effector.

Example 28

The surgical tool assembly of Example 27, wherein the articulationsystem is selectively engageable with the firing member assembly in anengaged configuration wherein movement of the firing member assemblycauses the articulation system to articulate the surgical end effectorrelative to the shaft assembly and a disengaged configuration whereinthe firing member assembly is movable without moving the articulationsystem and wherein movement of the proximal closure member the entirefirst closure stroke distance moves the articulation system and firingmember assembly to the disengaged configuration.

Example 29

The surgical tool assembly of Examples 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 or 28,wherein the first and second jaws are mounted relative to each other forselective pivotal travel about a fixed jaw axis.

Example 30

A surgical tool assembly of Examples 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or29, wherein the first jaw comprises an elongate channel that isconfigured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein andwherein the second jaw comprises an anvil.

Example 31

The surgical tool assembly of Example 30, wherein the firing memberassembly comprises a proximal firing member and a distal firing memberthat slidably interfaces with the proximal firing member. An endeffector firing member is operably coupled to the distal firing memberand is configured to sever tissue and fire staples out of a surgicalstaple cartridge that is operably supported in the elongate channel whenthe firing member assembly is moved distally a predetermined firingdistance.

Example 32

A surgical tool assembly comprising a surgical end effector thatcomprises first and second jaws that operably interface with each otherto move between a fully open position and a fully closed positionrelative to each other upon application of closing and opening motionsthereto. The surgical tool assembly further comprises a shaft assemblythat is coupled to the surgical end effector. The shaft assemblycomprises a proximal closure member that is configured to move through afirst closure stroke distance upon application of a closure input motionthereto. A distal closure member operably interfaces with the surgicalend effector and a closure stroke reduction assembly is movably coupledto the proximal closure member and an intermediate closure member thatis coupled to the distal closure member such that when the proximalclosure member moves through the first closure stroke distance, theclosure stroke reduction assembly moves the intermediate closure memberand the distal closure member axially a second closure stroke distancethat is less than the first closure stroke distance such that the distalclosure member moves at least one of the first and second jaws from thefully open position to the fully closed position.

Example 33

The surgical tool assembly of Example 32, wherein the shaft assemblycomprises a shaft mounting portion that is configured for operableengagement with a source of the closure input motion. A spine assemblyis operably coupled to the surgical end effector and the shaft mountingportion. The spine assembly movably supports the proximal closuremember, the intermediate closure member and the distal closure memberthereon.

Example 34

The surgical tool assembly of Examples 32 or 33, wherein the surgicalend effector is coupled to the shaft assembly by an articulation joint.

Example 35

The surgical tool assembly of Example 34, wherein the shaft assemblycomprises an articulation system that is configured to applyarticulation motions to the surgical end effector and a firing memberassembly that is configured to axially advance a firing member throughthe surgical end effector.

Example 36

The surgical tool assembly of Example 35, wherein the articulationsystem is selectively engageable with the firing member assembly in anengaged configuration wherein movement of the firing member assemblycauses the articulation system to articulate the surgical end effectorrelative to the shaft assembly and a disengaged configuration whereinthe firing member assembly is movable without moving the articulationsystem and wherein movement of the proximal closure member the entirefirst axial closure stroke distance moves the articulation system andfiring member assembly to the disengaged configuration.

Example 37

The surgical tool assembly of Examples 32, 33, 34, 35 or 36, wherein thefirst jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configured to removablysupport a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the second jawcomprises an anvil.

Example 38

The surgical tool assembly of Example 37, wherein the firing memberassembly comprises a proximal firing member, a distal firing member thatslidably interfaces with the proximal firing member and an end effectorfiring member that is operably coupled to the distal firing member andis configured to sever tissue and fire staples out of a surgical staplecartridge that is operably supported in the elongate channel when thefiring member assembly is moved distally a predetermined firingdistance.

Example 39

A surgical tool assembly comprising a surgical end effector thatcomprises first and second jaws that operably interface with each otherto move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fullyclosed position relative to each other upon application of closing andopening motions thereto. A shaft assembly is coupled to the surgical endeffector. The shaft assembly comprises a proximal closure member that isconfigured to move through a first axial closure stroke distance uponapplication of a closure input motion thereto;. A distal closure memberoperably interfaces with the surgical end effector. The surgical toolassembly further comprises closure stroke reduction means that movablyinterfaces with the proximal closure member such that when the proximalclosure member moves through the first axial closure stroke distance,the closure stroke reduction means moves from an unactuatedconfiguration to an actuated configuration to thereby move the distalclosure member axially a second axial closure stroke distance that isless than the first axial closure stroke distance so that the distalclosure member moves the at least one of the first and second jaws fromthe fully open position to the fully closed position.

Example 40

A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that comprisesfirst and second jaws that operably interface with each other to moveabout a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closedposition relative to each other. A shaft assembly operably interfaceswith the surgical end effector and comprises a closure member that isconfigured to move the first and second jaws from the fully openposition to the fully closed position when the closure member is movedin a first direction. The surgical instrument further comprises at leastone jaw opening cam that is supported for movement relative to theclosure member and the first and second jaws. Each of the at least onejaw opening cam is configured to apply an opening motion to the firstand second jaws when the closure member is moved in a second direction.

Example 41

The surgical instrument of Example 40, wherein each of the at least onejaw opening cam is movably coupled to the closure member.

Example 42

The surgical instrument of Examples 40 or 41, wherein each of the atleast one jaw opening cam is movably coupled to the closure member by atension spring.

Example 43

The surgical instrument of Examples 40, 41 or 42, wherein the first jawcomprises a first arcuate cam surface that corresponds to each of the atleast one jaw opening cams and wherein the second jaw comprises a secondarcuate cam surface that corresponds to each of the first arcuate camsurface and curves in a direction away from the first arcuate camsurface.

Example 44

The surgical instrument of Example 43, wherein each of the at least onejaw opening cams has a wedge shape that is configured to simultaneouslyengage the corresponding first and second arcuate cam surfaces.

Example 45

The surgical instrument of Examples 40, 41, 42, 43 or 44, wherein thefirst jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configured to removablysupport a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the second jawcomprises an anvil.

Example 46

The surgical instrument of Examples 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, or 45, whereinthe surgical end effector is coupled to the shaft assembly by anarticulation joint for selective articulation about an articulation axisthat is transverse to a shaft axis defined by the shaft assembly.

Example 47

The surgical instrument of Examples 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, or 46,wherein the first jaw comprises a first closure cam surface and whereinthe second jaw comprises a second closure cam surface. Each of the firstand second closure cam surfaces is positioned for camming contact withthe closure member as the closure member moves in the first direction toapply closure motions to the first and second jaws.

Example 48

The surgical instrument of Example 45, wherein the shaft assemblyfurther comprises a firing member assembly that is configured for axialmovement in the first direction upon application of a firing motionthereto. An end effector firing member is operably coupled to the firingmember assembly and is configured to sever tissue and fire staples outof a surgical staple cartridge that is operably supported in theelongate channel when the firing member assembly is moved in the firstdirection a predetermined firing distance.

Example 49

A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that comprisesfirst and second jaws that operably interface with each other to moveabout a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closedposition relative to each other. A shaft assembly operably interfaceswith the surgical end effector and comprises a closure member that isconfigured to move the first and second jaws from the fully openposition to the fully closed position when the closure member is movedin a first direction. The surgical instrument further comprises a firstwedge-shaped cam that is movably coupled to the closure member by afirst extendable coupler for movement relative to the closure member;and a second wedge-shaped cam that is movably coupled to the closuremember by a second extendable coupler for movement relative to theclosure member. The first and second wedge-shaped cams are configured toapply opening motions to the first and second jaws when the closuremember is moved in a second direction.

Example 50

The surgical stapling instrument of Example 49, wherein the first wedgeshaped cam is oriented between a first arcuate cam surface on the firstjaw and a second arcuate surface on the second jaw and wherein thesecond wedge shaped cam is oriented between another first arcuate camsurface on the first jaw and another second arcuate cam surface on thesecond jaw.

Example 51

The surgical instrument of Examples 49 or 50, wherein the firstextendable coupler comprises a first tension spring and wherein thesecond extendable coupler comprises a second tension spring.

Example 52

The surgical instrument of Examples 49, 50 or 51, wherein the first jawcomprises an elongate channel that is configured to removably support asurgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the second jaw comprisesan anvil.

Example 53

The surgical instrument of Examples 49, 50, 51 or 52, wherein thesurgical end effector is coupled to the shaft assembly by anarticulation joint for selective articulation about an articulation axisthat is transverse to a shaft axis that is defined by the shaftassembly.

Example 54

A surgical instrument of Example 52, wherein the shaft assembly furthercomprises a firing member assembly that is configured for axial movementin the first direction upon application of a firing motion thereto andan end effector firing member that is operably coupled to the firingmember assembly and is configured to sever tissue and fire staples outof a surgical staple cartridge that is operably supported in theelongate channel when the firing member assembly is moved in the firstdirection a predetermined firing distance.

Example 55

The surgical instrument of Examples 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 or 54, whereinthe first jaw comprises a first closure cam surface and wherein thesecond jaw comprises a second closure cam surface. Each of the first andsecond closure cam surfaces is positioned for camming contact with theclosure member as the closure member moves in the first direction toapply closure motions to the first and second jaws.

Example 56

A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that comprisesfirst and second jaws that operably interface with each other to moveabout a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closedposition relative to each other. A shaft assembly operably interfaceswith the surgical end effector and comprises a closure member that isconfigured to move the first and second jaws from the fully openposition to the fully closed position when the closure member is movedin a first direction. The surgical instrument also comprises at leastone jaw opening cam that is supported between corresponding portions ofthe first and second jaws and means for movably coupling each jawopening cam to the closure member such that each of the jaw opening camsis located distal to the closure member. The means for movably couplingalso applying a tension force to the jaw opening cam as the closuremember is moved in a second direction.

Example 57

The surgical instrument of Example 56, wherein the first jaw comprises afirst closure cam surface and wherein the second jaw comprises a secondclosure cam surface. Each of the first and second closure cam surfacesare positioned for camming contact with the closure member as theclosure member moves in the first direction to apply closure motions tothe first and second jaws.

Example 58

The surgical instrument of Examples 56 or 57, wherein the closure memberis axially movable between an unactuated position corresponding to thefully open position to a fully actuated position corresponding to thefully closed position and wherein each of the jaw opening cams is distalto the closure member when the closure member is in the unactuatedposition.

Example 59

The surgical instrument of Examples 56, 57 or 58, wherein the first jawcomprises an elongate channel that is configured to removably support asurgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the second jaw comprisesan anvil.

Example 60

A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that comprisesa first jaw and a second jaw that is pivotally coupled to the first jawfor selective pivotal travel about a pivot axis that is constrained toonly move along a vertical axis and being selectively movable between afully open position and a fully closed position relative to the firstjaw. The surgical instrument also comprises a closure member that isconfigured to move the first and second jaws from the fully openposition to the fully closed position when the closure member is movedin a first direction.

Example 61

The surgical instrument of Example 60, wherein the closure member isconfigured to move the pivot axis from a first vertical position alongthe vertical axis that corresponds to the fully open position to asecond vertical position that corresponds to the fully closed positionas the closure member is moved in the first direction.

Example 62

The surgical instrument of Examples 60 or 61, wherein the closure memberis configured to pivot the second jaw about the pivot axis to the fullyclosed position as the closure member is moved in the first direction.

Example 63

The surgical instrument of Examples 60, 61 or 62, wherein the second jawcomprises a pair of pivot pins that define the pivot axis and are eachmovably received within a corresponding vertical slot formed in thefirst jaw and wherein each pivot pin is in operable engagement with theclosure member.

Example 64

The surgical instrument of Example 63, wherein each pivot pin is alsoreceived in a corresponding closure slot in the closure member.

Example 65

The surgical instrument of Example 64, wherein each closure slotcomprises a proximal slot portion that extends along a first horizontalaxis and a distal slot portion that extends along a second horizontalaxis that is offset from the first horizontal axis.

Example 66

The surgical instrument of Example 65, wherein the pivot pins arelocated in a first vertical position within the corresponding verticalslot in the first jaw and the distal slot portion of the correspondingclosure slot in the closure member when the second jaw is in the fullyopen position and wherein the pivot pins are located in a secondvertical position within the corresponding vertical slot in the firstjaw and the proximal slot portion in the closure member when the secondjaw is in the fully closed position.

Example 67

The surgical instrument of Examples 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 or 66,wherein the first jaw comprises a first closure cam surface and whereinthe second jaw comprises a second closure cam surface. Each of the firstand second closure cam surfaces is positioned for camming contact withthe closure member as the closure member moves in the first direction toapply closure motions to the first and second jaws.

Example 68

The surgical instrument of Examples 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 or 67,wherein the first jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configuredto removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein thesecond jaw comprises an anvil.

Example 69

The surgical instrument of Examples 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 or68, wherein the closure member comprises a portion of a shaft assemblythat is operably coupled to the surgical end effector.

Example 70

The surgical instrument of Examples 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68or 69, wherein the surgical end effector is coupled to the shaftassembly by an articulation joint for selective articulation about anarticulation axis that is transverse to a shaft axis that is defined bythe shaft assembly.

Example 71

The surgical instrument of Example 68, wherein the shaft assemblyfurther comprises a firing member assembly that is configured for axialmovement in the first direction upon application of a firing motionthereto and an end effector firing member that is operably coupled tothe firing member assembly and is configured to sever tissue and firestaples out of a surgical staple cartridge that is operably supported inthe elongate channel when the firing member assembly is moved in thefirst direction a predetermined firing distance.

Example 72

A surgical instrument comprising an elongate channel that is configuredto operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein. The surgicalinstrument further comprises an anvil that comprises a pair of anvilpins that are received within corresponding channel slots formed in theelongate channel. Each channel slot extends along a channel axis. Aclosure member is configured to move in first and second directionsrelative to the elongate channel and the anvil. Each anvil pin extendsinto a corresponding closure slot in the closure member that istransverse to the channel slots such that when the closure member ismoved in the first direction, the anvil pins are moved along the channelaxis and the anvil is simultaneously pivoted toward the elongatechannel.

Example 73

The surgical instrument of Example 72, wherein each closure slotcomprises a proximal closure slot portion that extends along a firstclosure axis that is transverse to the corresponding channel axis and adistal closure slot portion that extends along a second closure axisthat is transverse to the channel axis and offset from the first closureaxis.

Example 74

The surgical instrument of Examples 72 or 73, wherein the pair of anvilpins defines a pivot axis that is selectively movable along the channelaxis.

Example 75

The surgical instrument of Examples 73 or 74, wherein each channel axisis vertically oriented and each closure axis is horizontally orientedand parallel to each other.

Example 76

The surgical instrument of Examples 72, 73, 74 or 75, wherein theclosure member comprises a portion of a shaft assembly that is operablycoupled to the elongate channel.

Example 77

The surgical instrument of Example 76, wherein the elongate channel iscoupled to the shaft assembly by an articulation joint for selectivearticulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to a shaftaxis defined by the shaft assembly.

Example 78

The surgical instrument of Examples 76 or 77, wherein the shaft assemblyfurther comprises a firing member assembly that is configured for axialmovement in the first direction upon application of a firing motionthereto and an end effector firing member that is operably coupled tothe firing member assembly and is configured to sever tissue and firestaples out of a surgical staple cartridge that is operably supported inthe elongate channel when the firing member assembly is moved in thefirst direction a predetermined firing distance.

Example 79

A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that comprisesa first jaw and a second jaw that is pivotally coupled to the first jawfor selective pivotal travel about a pivot axis that is constrained toonly move along a vertical axis and being selectively movable between afully open position and a fully closed position relative to the firstjaw. The surgical instrument also comprises closure means forsimultaneously moving the pivot axis vertically along the vertical axiswhile pivoting the second jaw about the pivot axis.

Example 80

A surgical instrument comprising a shaft assembly that defines a shaftaxis. A surgical end effector operably interfaces with the shaftassembly and comprises first and second jaws that operably interfacewith each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully openposition and a fully closed position relative to each other. A firingmember is configured to move between a starting position and an endingposition relative to the surgical end effector. The firing membercomprises a vertically extending firing body that comprises two lateralsides. A first jaw engagement member extends laterally from each lateralside of the firing body. Each first jaw engagement member is orientedalong a first jaw engagement axis that intersects the shaft axis and isarranged to slidably engage the first jaw as the firing member is movedbetween the starting position and the ending position. A second jawengagement member extends laterally from each lateral side of the firingbody and is spaced vertically from the first jaw engagement members.Each second jaw engagement is oriented along a second jaw engagementaxis that intersects the shaft axis and the first jaw engagement axis.Each second jaw engagement member is arranged to slidably engage thesecond jaw as the firing member is moved between the starting positionand ending position.

Example 81

The surgical instrument of Example 80, wherein each first jaw engagementmember comprises a first proximal end and a first distal end and whereinthe first proximal end comprises a first proximal thickness and whereinthe first distal end comprises a first distal thickness that differsfrom the first proximal thickness.

Example 82

The surgical instrument of Example 81, wherein the first proximalthickness is less than the first distal thickness.

Example 83

The surgical instrument of Example 81, wherein each second jawengagement member comprises a second proximal end and a second distalend and wherein the second proximal end has a second proximal thicknessand wherein the second distal end has a second distal thickness thatdiffers from the second proximal thickness.

Example 84

The surgical instrument of Example 83, wherein the second proximalthickness is less than the second distal thickness.

Example 85

The surgical instrument of Examples 83 or 84, wherein the proximal endof each first jaw engagement member is oriented a proximal verticaldistance from the proximal end of a corresponding one of the second jawengagement members and wherein the distal end of each first jawengagement member is oriented a distal vertical distance from the distalend of a corresponding one of the second jaw engagement members whereinthe proximal vertical distance differs from the distal verticaldistance.

Example 86

The surgical instrument of Example 85, wherein the proximal verticaldistance is less than the distal vertical distance.

Example 87

The surgical instrument of Examples 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85 or 86,wherein the firing member further comprises a central first jawengagement member that extends from each lateral side of the firingbody.

Example 88

The surgical instrument of Examples 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86 or 87,wherein the firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface.

Example 89

A surgical instrument comprising a shaft assembly that defines a shaftaxis. A surgical end effector operably interfaces with the shaftassembly and comprises an elongate channel that is configured tooperably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and an anvilwherein the anvil and elongate channel are configured for movable travelrelative to each other about a fixed jaw axis between a fully openposition and a fully closed position relative to each other. A firingmember is configured to move between a starting position and an endingposition relative to the surgical end effector. The firing membercomprises a vertically extending firing body that comprises two lateralsides. A channel engagement member extends laterally from each lateralside of the firing body. Each channel engagement member comprises afirst proximal end and a first distal end and is arranged to slidablyengage the elongate channel as the firing member is moved between thestarting position and ending position. An anvil engagement memberextends laterally from each lateral side of the firing body and isspaced vertically from a corresponding one of the channel engagementmembers. Each anvil engagement member comprises a second proximal endthat is spaced a proximal vertical distance from the first proximal endof a corresponding one of the channel engagement members. Each anvilengagement member further comprises a second distal end that is spacedfrom the first distal end of the corresponding channel engagement membera distal vertical distance that differs from the proximal verticaldistance. Each anvil jaw engagement member is arranged to slidablyengage the anvil as the firing member is moved between the startingposition and the ending position.

Example 90

The surgical instrument of Example 89, wherein the proximal verticaldistance is less than the distal vertical distance.

Example 91

The surgical instrument of Examples 89 or 90, wherein the first proximalend has a first proximal thickness and wherein the first distal end hasa first distal thickness that differs from the first proximal thickness.

Example 92

The surgical instrument of Example 91, wherein the first proximalthickness is less than the first distal thickness.

Example 93

The surgical instrument of Example 89, 90, 91 or 92, wherein the secondproximal end has a second proximal thickness and wherein the seconddistal end has a second distal thickness that differs from the secondproximal thickness.

Example 94

The surgical instrument of Example 93, wherein the second proximalthickness is less than the second distal thickness.

Example 95

The surgical instrument of Examples 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 or 94, whereinthe firing member further comprises a central channel engagement memberthat extends from each lateral side of the firing body.

Example 96

The surgical instrument of Examples 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 or 95,wherein the firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface.

Example 97

A surgical instrument comprising a shaft assembly that defines a shaftaxis. A surgical end effector operably interfaces with the shaftassembly and comprises first and second jaws that operably interfacewith each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully openposition and a fully closed position relative to each other. A firingmember is configured to move between a starting position and an endingposition relative to the surgical end effector. The firing membercomprises a vertically extending firing body that comprises two lateralsides. A first jaw engagement member extends laterally from each lateralside of the firing body. Each first jaw engagement member is orientedalong a first jaw engagement axis that is not parallel with the shaftaxis and is arranged to slidably engage the first jaw as the firingmember is moved between the starting position and the ending position. Asecond jaw engagement member extends laterally from each lateral side ofthe firing body and is spaced vertically from the first jaw engagementmembers. E second jaw engagement member is oriented along a second jawengagement axis is not parallel to the shaft axis and the first jawengagement axis.

Example 98

The surgical instrument of Example 97, wherein the firing member furthercomprises a central first jaw engagement member extending from eachlateral side of the firing body.

Example 99

The surgical instrument of Examples 97 or 98, wherein the firing memberfurther comprises a tissue cutting surface.

Example 100

A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw that is configured tooperably support a surgical staple cartridge therein. A second jaw issupported relative to the first jaw such that the first and second jawsare selectively movable between an open position and a closed positionrelative to each other. A firing member is supported for axial movementwithin the second jaw between a starting position and an ending positionupon applications of firing and retraction motions thereto. A lockmember is supported within the surgical end effector and is movablebetween an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration wherein thelock member prevents the firing member from being distally advanced fromthe starting position. The lock member operably interfaces with the endeffector so as to be biased into the unlocked position when the firstand second jaws are in the open position. The lock member is configuredto be moved to the locked position when the first and second jaws aremoved to the closed position unless a surgical staple cartridgecomprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position issupported within the first jaw to thereby retain the lock member in theunlocked configuration.

Example 101

The surgical instrument of Example 100, wherein the surgical staplecartridge comprises an elongate slot that is configured to slidablyreceive the firing member therein as the firing member is moved betweenthe starting and ending positions and wherein the lock member isconfigured to axially align the firing member with the elongate slot.

Example 102

The surgical instrument of Examples 100 or 101, wherein the firingmember comprises two lateral sides and wherein the lock member isconfigured to retainingly engage each lateral side of the firing memberwhen the lock member is in the locked configuration.

Example 103

The surgical instrument of Example 102, wherein the lock membercomprises a spring arm that corresponds to each lateral side of thefiring member and a lock notch in each spring arm that is configured toreleasably engage a corresponding lock lug on each lateral side of thefiring member.

Example 104

The surgical instrument of Example 103, wherein each spring armcomprises an unlocking tab configured to engage a corresponding portionof a cam assembly that is supported in the unfired position within asurgical staple cartridge mounted within the first jaw.

Example 105

The surgical instrument of Examples 100, 101, 102, 103 or 104, furthercomprising a tissue cutting surface on the firing member.

Example 106

The surgical instrument of Examples 100, 101, 102, 103, 104 or 105,wherein the second jaw comprises an anvil.

Example 107

The surgical instrument of Example 106, wherein the anvil comprises ananvil body, an axial slot in the anvil body to permit a portion of thefiring member to axially pass therethrough and an axial passage withinthe anvil body on each side of the axial slot.

Example 108

The surgical instrument of Example 107, wherein the firing membercomprises a foot that is configured to slidably pass within acorresponding passage within the first jaw and laterally extending anvilengagement features that extend laterally from a top portion of thefiring member body and are configured to pass through a correspondingone of the axial passages within the anvil body and wherein the firstand second engagement features are located between the foot and theanvil engagement features.

Example 109

A surgical instrument comprising a shaft assembly that defines a shaftaxis. An elongate channel is coupled to the shaft assembly and isconfigured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein. Ananvil is supported relative to the elongate channel such that the anviland the elongate channel are selectively movable between a fully openedposition and a fully closed position relative to each other. A firingmember is supported for axial movement within the elongate channelbetween a starting position and an ending position upon applications offiring and retraction motions thereto. A lock member is movable betweenan unlocked configuration that corresponds to the fully open position ofthe anvil and the elongate channel and a locked configuration whereinthe lock member prevents the firing member from being distally advancedfrom the starting position. The lock member is biased into the unlockedposition when the anvil and the elongate channel are in the fully openposition and is configured to be moved to the locked position by one ofthe anvil and the elongate channel when the anvil and elongate channelare moved to the fully closed position unless a surgical staplecartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfiredposition is supported within the elongate channel to thereby retain thelock member in the unlocked configuration.

Example 110

The surgical instrument of Example 109, wherein the lock member isconfigured to axially align the firing member along the shaft axis whenthe anvil and the elongate channel are in the fully open position.

Example 111

The surgical instrument of Example 110, wherein the lock membercomprises a firing member alignment tab corresponding to each lateralside of the firing member.

Example 112

The surgical instrument of Examples 109, 110 or 111, wherein the lockmember further comprises at least one anvil spring that is supported inbiasing contact with the anvil to bias the lock member towards thelocked configuration as the anvil is moved from the fully open positionto the fully closed position.

Example 113

The surgical instrument of Examples, 109, 110, 111 or 112, wherein thefiring member comprises two lateral sides and wherein the lock member isconfigured to retainingly engage each lateral side of the firing memberwhen the lock member is in the locked configuration.

Example 114

The surgical instrument of Example 113, wherein lock member comprises aspring arm that corresponds to each lateral side of the firing memberand a lock notch in each spring arm that is configured to releasablyengage a corresponding lock lug on each lateral side of the firingmember.

Example 115

The surgical instrument of Example 114, wherein each spring armcomprises an unlocking tab that is configured to engage a correspondingportion of a cam assembly that is supported in the unfired positionwithin a surgical staple cartridge that is mounted within the elongatechannel.

Example 116

The surgical instrument of Examples 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114 or 115,further comprising a tissue cutting surface on the firing member.

Example 117

The surgical instrument of Examples 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 or116, wherein the anvil comprises an anvil body, an axial slot in theanvil body to permit a portion of the firing member to axially passtherethrough and an axial passage within the anvil body on each side ofthe axial slot.

Example 118

The surgical instrument of Example 117, wherein the firing membercomprises a foot that is configured to slidably pass within acorresponding passage within the elongate channel and laterallyextending anvil engagement features that extend laterally from a topportion of the firing member body and which are configured to passthrough a corresponding one of the axial passages within the anvil bodyand wherein the first and second engagement features are located betweenthe foot and the anvil engagement features.

Example 119

A surgical instrument that comprises a shaft assembly that defines ashaft axis. An elongate channel is coupled to the shaft assembly and isconfigured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein. Ananvil is supported relative to the elongate channel such that the anviland the elongate channel are selectively movable between a fully openedposition and a fully closed position relative to each other. A firingmember is supported for axial movement within the elongate channelbetween a starting position and an ending position upon applications offiring and retraction motions thereto. The surgical instrument furthercomprises means for preventing the firing member from being distallyadvanced from the starting position unless a surgical staple cartridgecomprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position issupported within the elongate channel. The means for preventing ismovable between an unlocked configuration that corresponds to the fullyopen position of the anvil and the elongate channel and a lockedconfiguration wherein the lock member prevents the firing member frombeing distally advanced from the starting position when the anvil andthe elongate channel are moved from the fully opened to the fully closedposition.

Example 120

A surgical end effector that comprises a first jaw that comprises afirst proximal jaw end and a first jaw surface and a second jaw thatcomprises a second proximal jaw end and a second jaw surface. The firstproximal jaw end and the second proximal jaw end are movably supportedrelative to each other such that the first jaw surface and the secondjaw surface are movable between a fully open position relative to eachother and a fully closed position relative to each other wherein tissuemay be clamped therebetween. At least one expandable tissue stop islocated on one of the first and second jaws and is configured to extendbetween the first and second jaw surfaces as the first and second jawsare move between the fully open and the fully closed positions.

Example 121

The surgical end effector of Example 120, wherein each expandable tissuestop comprises a lower tissue stop portion, an upper tissue stop portionthat is supported for movable travel relative to the lower tissue stopportion and a biasing member for biasing the upper and lower tissue stopportions between a fully compressed orientation corresponding to thefully closed position and a fully expanded orientation corresponding tothe fully open position.

Example 122

The surgical end effector of Examples 120 or 121, wherein the first jawcomprises an elongate channel and a surgical staple cartridge that isoperably supported in the elongate channel and defines the first jawsurface.

Example 123

The surgical end effector of Example 122, wherein each expandable tissuestop is operably supported on the surgical staple cartridge.

Example 124

The surgical end effector of Examples 120, 121, 122 or 123, wherein theat least one expandable tissue stop comprises two expandable tissuestops that are operably supported adjacent the first proximal jaw end.

Example 125

The surgical end effector of Examples 120, 121, 122, 123 or 124, furthercomprising a fixed tissue stop on the second jaw corresponding to eachexpandable tissue stop.

Example 126

The surgical end effector of Example 125, wherein each fixed tissue stopis located proximal to the corresponding expandable tissue stop.

Example 127

The surgical end effector of Example 122, wherein the surgical staplecartridge comprises a cartridge body that is configured to be removablysupported in the elongate channel and defines the first jaw surface. Anelongate slot extends through a portion of the cartridge body and thefirst jaw surface. At least one row of discrete staple pockets islocated on each side of the elongate slot. Each discrete staple pocketoperably supports at least one surgical staple therein and wherein atleast a portion of the at least one expandable tissue stop is locateddistal of a proximal-most discrete staple pocket in each row of discretestaple pockets.

Example 128

The surgical end effector of Example 121, wherein the lower tissue stopportion is pivotally coupled to the first jaw and comprises a pair ofinterconnected cam walls that define a space therebetween and wherein acorresponding one of the upper tissue stop portions is movably supportedwithin the space.

Example 129

The surgical end effector of Example 128, wherein each lower tissue stopportion and the upper tissue stop portions are pivotally supported onthe first jaw for pivotal travel about a tissue stop axis.

Example 130

The surgical end effector of Example 129, wherein the first jawcomprises an elongate channel and a surgical staple cartridge that isoperably supported in the elongate channel and defines the first jawsurface.

Example 131

The surgical end effector of Example 130, wherein the surgical staplecartridge comprises a cartridge body that is configured to be removablysupported in the elongate channel and defines the first jaw surface. Anelongate slot extends through a portion of the cartridge body and thefirst jaw surface. At least one row of discrete staple pockets islocated on each side of the elongate slot. Each discrete staple pocketoperably supports at least one surgical staple therein and wherein theat least one expandable tissue stop is located distal of a proximal-mostdiscrete staple pocket in each of the rows of discrete staple pocketsand wherein the tissue stop axis is transverse to the elongate slot.

Example 132

A surgical end effector comprising a surgical staple cartridge thatcomprises a cartridge body that defines a cartridge deck surface and apattern of staple pockets therein. The surgical end effector furthercomprises an anvil that comprises a staple forming undersurface. Theanvil and the cartridge body are supported relative to each other suchthat one of the anvil and the cartridge body is selectively movablebetween a fully open position and a fully closed position relative tothe other of the anvil and the cartridge body. The surgical end effectorfurther comprises means for preventing tissue from extending proximallypast a proximal most portion of the pattern of staple pockets whentissue is admitted between the cartridge deck surface and the stapleforming undersurface. The means for preventing is expandable between afully collapsed orientation that corresponds to the fully closedposition and a fully expanded orientation that corresponds to the fullyopen position.

Example 133

The surgical end effector of Example 132, wherein the cartridge bodyfurther comprises an elongate slot that extends through a portion of thecartridge body and the cartridge deck surface and wherein the pattern ofstaple pockets comprises at least one row of discrete staple pocketsthat is located on each side of the elongate slot. Each discrete staplepocket operably supports at least one surgical staple therein andwherein the at least one expandable tissue stop is located distal of aproximal-most discrete staple pocket in each of the rows of discretestaple pockets.

Example 134

The surgical end effector of Examples 132 or 133, wherein the means forpreventing is movably supported on the cartridge body.

Example 136

The surgical end effector of Examples 132, 133, 134 or 135, wherein themeans for preventing are pivotally coupled to a proximal end of thecartridge body.

Example 137

The surgical end effector of Examples 32, 133, 134, 135 or 136, whereinthe means for preventing move between the fully collapsed orientationand the fully expanded orientation as the anvil and the cartridge bodyare moved between the fully closed position to the fully open position.

Example 138

A surgical end effector comprising a first jaw that comprises a firstjaw proximal end and a first jaw surface. The surgical end effectorfurther comprises a second jaw that comprises a second proximal jaw endand a second jaw surface. The first proximal jaw end and the secondproximal jaw end are movably supported relative to each other such thatthe first jaw surface and the second jaw surface are movable between afully open position relative to each other and a fully closed positionrelative to each other wherein tissue may be clamped therebetween. Atleast one fixed first jaw tissue stop extends upward above the first jawsurface adjacent the first jaw proximal end. A fixed second jaw tissuestop corresponds to each of the fixed first jaw tissue stops and extendsdownward past the second jaw surface and is located relative to thecorresponding first fixed jaw tissue stop such that when the first andsecond jaws are in the fully open position, at least a portion of thefixed second jaw tissue stop overlaps another portion of thecorresponding first fixed tissue stop and when the first and second jawsare in the fully closed position, the portion of the fixed second jawtissue stop extends below the second jaw surface and the another portionof the corresponding first fixed tissue stop extends above the first jawsurface.

Example 139

The surgical end effector of Example 138, wherein when the first andsecond jaws are in the fully closed position, the portion of thecorresponding first fixed tissue stop is received within a correspondingopening in the second jaw.

Example 140

The surgical end effector of Examples 138 or 139, wherein anotherportion of the first fixed tissue stop is distal to another portion ofthe second fixed tissue stop when the first and second jaws are in thefully open position.

The surgical instrument systems described herein have been described inconnection with the deployment and deformation of staples; however, theembodiments described herein are not so limited. Various embodiments areenvisioned which deploy fasteners other than staples, such as clamps ortacks, for example. Moreover, various embodiments are envisioned whichutilize any suitable means for sealing tissue. For instance, an endeffector in accordance with various embodiments can comprise electrodesconfigured to heat and seal the tissue. Also, for instance, an endeffector in accordance with certain embodiments can apply vibrationalenergy to seal the tissue.

The entire disclosures of:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,312, entitled ELECTROSURGICAL HEMOSTATIC DEVICE,which issued on Apr. 4, 1995;

U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,818, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVINGSEPARATE DISTINCT CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS, which issued on Feb. 21,2006;

U.S. Pat. No. 7,422,139, entitled MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING ANDFASTENING INSTRUMENT WITH TACTILE POSITION FEEDBACK, which issued onSep. 9, 2008;

U.S. Pat. No. 7,464,849, entitled ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SURGICAL INSTRUMENTWITH CLOSURE SYSTEM AND ANVIL ALIGNMENT COMPONENTS, which issued on Dec.16, 2008;

U.S. Pat. No. 7,670,334, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING ANARTICULATING END EFFECTOR, which issued on Mar. 2, 2010;

U.S. Pat. No. 7,753,245, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS, whichissued on Jul. 13, 2010;

U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,514, entitled SELECTIVELY ORIENTABLE IMPLANTABLEFASTENER CARTRIDGE, which issued on Mar. 12, 2013;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/343,803, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT HAVING RECORDING CAPABILITIES; now U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,537;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/031,573, entitled SURGICAL CUTTINGAND FASTENING INSTRUMENT HAVING RF ELECTRODES, filed Feb. 14, 2008;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/031,873, entitled END EFFECTORS FORA SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENT, filed Feb. 15, 2008, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,980,443;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/235,782, entitled MOTOR-DRIVENSURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,210,411;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/249,117, entitled POWERED SURGICALCUTTING AND STAPLING APPARATUS WITH MANUALLY RETRACTABLE FIRING SYSTEM,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,045;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/647,100, entitled MOTOR-DRIVENSURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT WITH ELECTRIC ACTUATOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROLASSEMBLY, filed Dec. 24, 2009; now U.S. Pat. No. 8,220,688;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/893,461, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE,filed Sep. 29, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,733,613;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/036,647, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENT, filed Feb. 28, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,870;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/118,241, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,072,535;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/524,049, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE, filed on Jun. 15, 2012,now U.S. Pat. No. 9,101,358;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/800,025, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGETISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263551;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/800,067, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGETISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263552;

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0175955, entitled SURGICALCUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT WITH CLOSURE TRIGGER LOCKING MECHANISM,filed Jan. 31, 2006; and

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0264194, entitled SURGICALSTAPLING INSTRUMENT WITH AN ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTOR, filed Apr. 22,2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,308,040, are hereby incorporated by referenceherein.

Although various devices have been described herein in connection withcertain embodiments, modifications and variations to those embodimentsmay be implemented. Particular features, structures, or characteristicsmay be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus,the particular features, structures or characteristics illustrated ordescribed in connection with one embodiment may be combined in whole orin part, with the features, structures, or characteristics of one ormore other embodiments without limitation. Also, where materials aredisclosed for certain components, other materials may be used.Furthermore, according to various embodiments, a single component may bereplaced by multiple components, and multiple components may be replacedby a single component, to perform a given function or functions. Theforegoing description and following claims are intended to cover allsuch modification and variations.

The devices disclosed herein can be designed to be disposed of after asingle use, or they can be designed to be used multiple times. In eithercase, however, a device can be reconditioned for reuse after at leastone use. Reconditioning can include any combination of the stepsincluding, but not limited to, the disassembly of the device, followedby cleaning or replacement of particular pieces of the device, andsubsequent reassembly of the device. In particular, a reconditioningfacility and/or surgical team can disassemble a device and, aftercleaning and/or replacing particular parts of the device, the device canbe reassembled for subsequent use. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that reconditioning of a device can utilize a variety oftechniques for disassembly, cleaning/replacement, and reassembly. Use ofsuch techniques, and the resulting reconditioned device, are all withinthe scope of the present application.

The devices disclosed herein may be processed before surgery. First, anew or used instrument may be obtained and, when necessary, cleaned. Theinstrument may then be sterilized. In one sterilization technique, theinstrument is placed in a closed and sealed container, such as a plasticor TYVEK bag. The container and instrument may then be placed in a fieldof radiation that can penetrate the container, such as gamma radiation,x-rays, and/or high-energy electrons. The radiation may kill bacteria onthe instrument and in the container. The sterilized instrument may thenbe stored in the sterile container. The sealed container may keep theinstrument sterile until it is opened in a medical facility. A devicemay also be sterilized using any other technique known in the art,including but not limited to beta radiation, gamma radiation, ethyleneoxide, plasma peroxide, and/or steam.

While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, thepresent invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope ofthe disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover anyvariations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its generalprinciples.

Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or inpart, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein isincorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materialsdo not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or otherdisclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to theextent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth hereinsupersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference.Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated byreference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions,statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only beincorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between thatincorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

What is claimed is:
 1. A surgical instrument, comprising: a shaftassembly defining a shaft axis; a surgical end effector operablyinterfacing with said shaft assembly and comprising first and secondjaws operably interfacing with each other to move about a fixed jaw axisbetween a fully open position and a fully closed position relative toeach other; and a firing member configured to move between a startingposition and an ending position relative to said surgical end effector,said firing member comprising: a vertically extending firing bodycomprising two lateral sides; a first jaw engagement member extendinglaterally from each said lateral side of said firing body, each saidfirst jaw engagement member oriented along a first jaw engagement axisthat intersects said shaft axis and being arranged to slidably engagesaid first jaw as said firing member is moved between said startingposition and said ending position; and a second jaw engagement memberextending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body andbeing spaced vertically from said first jaw engagement members, eachsaid second jaw engagement member being oriented along a second jawengagement axis that intersects said shaft axis and said first jawengagement axis, each said second jaw engagement member being arrangedto slidably engage said second jaw as said firing member is movedbetween said starting position and said ending position.
 2. The surgicalinstrument of claim 1, wherein each said first jaw engagement membercomprises a first proximal end and a first distal end and wherein saidfirst proximal end comprises a first proximal thickness and wherein saidfirst distal end comprises a first distal thickness that differs fromsaid first proximal thickness.
 3. The surgical instrument of claim 2,wherein said first proximal thickness is less than said first distalthickness.
 4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein each saidsecond jaw engagement member comprises a second proximal end and asecond distal end and wherein said second proximal end has a secondproximal thickness and wherein said second distal end has a seconddistal thickness that differs from said second proximal thickness. 5.The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said second proximalthickness is less than said second distal thickness.
 6. The surgicalinstrument of claim 4, wherein said proximal end of each said first jawengagement member is oriented a proximal vertical distance from saidproximal end of a corresponding one of said second jaw engagementmembers and wherein said distal end of each said first jaw engagementmember is oriented a distal vertical distance from said distal end of acorresponding one of said second jaw engagement members wherein saidproximal vertical distance differs from said distal vertical distance.7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said proximal verticaldistance is less than said distal vertical distance.
 8. The surgicalinstrument of claim 1, wherein said firing member further comprises acentral first jaw engagement member extending from each said lateralside of said firing body.
 9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, whereinsaid firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface.
 10. Asurgical instrument, comprising: a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assemblyand comprising: an elongate channel configured to operably support asurgical staple cartridge therein; and an anvil, said elongate channeland anvil being configured for movable travel relative to each otherabout a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closedposition relative to each other; and a firing member configured to movebetween a starting position and an ending position relative to saidsurgical end effector, said firing member comprising: a verticallyextending firing body comprising two lateral sides; a channel engagementmember extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firingbody, each said channel engagement member comprising a first proximalend and a first distal end and being arranged to slidably engage saidelongate channel as said firing member is moved between said startingposition and said ending position; and an anvil engagement memberextending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body andbeing spaced vertically from a corresponding one of said channelengagement members, each said anvil engagement member comprising asecond proximal end spaced a proximal vertical distance from said firstproximal end of a corresponding one of said channel engagement members,each said anvil engagement member further comprising a second distal endthat is spaced from said first distal end of said corresponding channelengagement member a distal vertical distance that differs from saidproximal vertical distance, each said anvil jaw engagement member beingarranged to slidably engage said anvil as said firing member is movedbetween said starting position and said ending position.
 11. Thesurgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said proximal vertical distanceis less than said distal vertical distance.
 12. The surgical instrumentof claim 10, wherein said first proximal end has a first proximalthickness and wherein said first distal end has a first distal thicknessthat differs from said first proximal thickness.
 13. The surgicalinstrument of claim 12, wherein said first proximal thickness is lessthan said first distal thickness.
 14. The surgical instrument of claim12, wherein said second proximal end has a second proximal thickness andwherein said second distal end has a second distal thickness thatdiffers from said second proximal thickness.
 15. The surgical instrumentof claim 14, wherein said second proximal thickness is less than saidsecond distal thickness.
 16. The surgical instrument of claim 10,wherein said firing member further comprises a central channelengagement member extending from each said lateral side of said firingbody.
 17. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said firingmember further comprises a tissue cutting surface.
 18. A surgicalinstrument, comprising: a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; asurgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assembly andcomprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other tomove about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fullyclosed position relative to each other; and a firing member configuredto move between a starting position and an ending position relative tosaid surgical end effector, said firing member comprising: a verticallyextending firing body comprising two lateral sides; a first jawengagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side ofsaid firing body, each said first jaw engagement member oriented along afirst jaw engagement axis that is not parallel with said shaft axis andbeing arranged to slidably engage said first jaw as said firing memberis moved between said starting position and ending position; and asecond jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateralside of said firing body and being spaced vertically from said first jawengagement members, each said second jaw engagement member beingoriented along a second jaw engagement axis is not parallel to saidshaft axis and said first jaw engagement axis.
 19. The surgicalinstrument of claim 18, wherein said firing member further comprises acentral first jaw engagement member extending from each said lateralside of said firing body.
 20. The surgical instrument of claim 18,wherein said firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface.